Chicago Cubs Coach Emerging as Candidate for Guardians Manager Job
The recent retirement of longtime manager Terry Francona has left an opening for the Cleveland Guardians.
Nearly a month after his announcement, the team is still without a manager. It appears they're making progress towards finding their next skipper, though.
Beat writer Zack Meisel, who covers the team for The Athletic, is reporting that the following men are receiving consideration to succeed Francona: New York Yankees bench coach Carlos Mendoza, Seattle Mariners staffer Stephen Vogt, Los Angeles Dodgers first base coach Clayton McDonald and Guardians coaches John McDonald and Chris Valaika.
One member of David Ross' coaching staff is emerging as a potential candidate as well, according to The Athletic. They're reporting that Chicago Cubs bench coach Andy Green has interviewed for the Cleveland managerial job.
Green enjoyed a multi-year professional career, playing for the Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Mets and the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan. He also managed the San Diego Padres from 2016 through 2019.
Green joined the Cubs' coaching staff at the same time that manager David Ross did, upon the conclusion of the 2019 season. Two months after the club announced Ross had been hired as manager, Chicago made Green their bench coach, a position he's held for the last four seasons.
If Green were to depart for his second managerial job, it would create an opening for the Cubs, as they would soon be in need of a new bench coach. It remains unclear who would take on that role, if there is in fact a need.
The Cubs exceeded expectations in 2023, posting their first winning season since 2020, racking up 83 wins.
The club was in pole position for a playoff berth, before faltering in the final weeks of the season. They finished just one game behind the Diamondbacks for the third and final National League Wild Card. Tuesday night, Arizona defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLCS, securing their first NL Pennant since 2001.
