The long awaited Joe Giardi decision came down yesterday and it did not go the Chicago Cubs way. Girardi re-signed with the New York Yankees for 4-years at 16 million. Girardi said there was really no chance of him leaving. He also said the Cubs will always be in his heart, but the Yankees are in his heart now too.
Now with Girardi out of the picture, where do the Cubs turn now?
The Cubs are expected to meet with San Diego Padres Rick Renteria in Arizona next week. Theo Epstein, Jed Hoyer and Randy Bush will be at the interview. Renteria has a job with the Padres if he does not get a managerial job. The Padres announced recently that all the coaches on Bud Black’s coaching staff will return.
Gordon Wittenmyer reports the Cubs are expected to ask for permission to interview Tampa Bay Rays bench coach Dave Martinez. We do not know if the Cubs have been granted to interview Martinez yet. The Rays announced yesterday that every coach on Joe Maddon’s coaching staff will be retained.
The Cubs met with A.J. Hinch not too long ago about the managerial opening and the Cubs met with Manny Acta for 7 hours a couple days ago. Acta’s interview went well and there was no work on how Hinch’s interview went.
Ozzie Guillen as Cubs manager? That’s not happening, but if asked, Guillen would take the job. Guillen said; “All my kids ask me that: Would you ever manage the Cubs if they asked? Hey, this is my business. This is my job. Of course I will.”
Guillen goes on to say, “can you picture me winning with the Cubs?”
Guillen won’t be the next Cubs manager, but there is interest from his side.
From the looks of it, Acta is the leading candidate to become the next Cubs manager. But the Cubs do like Renteria a lot and depending on how the interview next week goes, he could jump Acta easily.
The Cubs want a new manager by November 11th when the general manager meetings kick off.