According to multiple reports, the Cubs have fired Dale Sveum and he will not return to manage the Cubs in the final year of his three-year contract.
According to multiple reports, some members of Sveum’s staff may return but those positions will not filled until a new manger is hired.
Updated 11:14am CDT – The Cubs made it official and announced that Dale Sveum has been relieved of his duties as the manager of the Cubs.
Theo Epstein said the Cubs want a “dynamic new voice and the energy, creativity and freshness” and said the new manager will be in place before the General Manager meetings on November 11. Epstein explained that Sveum is not a scapegoat for the shortcomings at the big league level the past two seasons. Epstein and Jed Hoyer took responsibility for the lack of talent he had to work with.
The Cubs have not contacted any possible candidates to replace Sveum and will begin the process on Tuesday contacting candidates and asking for permission to interview those under contract with other teams.
According to David Kaplan, Joe Girardi is “far and away” the Cubs first choice to replace Sveum. Girardi is under contract until October 31 and the Cubs will have to receive permission from the Yankees to talk to him before then.
Update – Nothing official on the coaches. Reports over the weekend suggested that the Cubs wanted to keep pitching coach Chris Bosio and first base coach Dave McKay. The futures of hitting coaches James Rowson and Rob Deer are unclear as well as bench coach Jamie Quirk and third base coach David Bell.