NEWSLETTER
As you know by now, there isn’t a whole lot that the Cubs can do in a fully visible way during the lockout, because the most fully visible things a Major League Baseball team does tend to relate to its Major League players. And those guys, for all transaction purposes, are wholly off the table this month or two or god-please-don’t-make-me-say-three.
That’s not to say the Chicago Cubs, or any other MLB organization, are just sitting on their hands right now. There are all kinds of normal front office things going on, from planning and preparing, to scouting and developing, to minor league transacting.
One other thing that I just wanted to remind you about: hirings and firings. The Cubs have made their biggest front office moves in that regard already this offseason, with the additions of new GM Carter Hawkins and new AGM Ehsan Bokhari, among other changes. The Cubs’ coaching staff has also undergone substantial change, as well, including the addition of new hitting coach Greg Brown, new assistant hitting coach Johnny Washington, and new assistant pitching coach Daniel Moskos.
To that point, keep on your radars the expectation that the Cubs will add one more coach at some point this offseason, replacing outgoing long-time catching and strategy coach Mike Borzello (even if not a one-to-one replacement in terms of the position. Indeed, NBC Sports Chicago reports that the Cubs are looking to add TWO more coaches to the staff to fill Borzello’s shoes. We’ll see if the Cubs are able to pull that off – remember, adding Moskos was already an added position, so it’s possible he is one of those two – but I would at least expect one more coach this offseason.
Otherwise, the only order of business on the coaching staff is an extension for David Ross, which may sound at first as yet “unearned,” but the idea is to give yourself options in the years ahead without creating a lame duck situation. I expect a deal to get done at some point.
So, that is to say, even as the lockout RAGES ON, we should get some coaching/managerial news at some point.
