The Yankees have reportedly made their offer to Joe Girardi and are now waiting to hear back from him. But as news surfaced on Friday that the Yankees would make a formal offer to Girardi at some point during the day, Dan Bernstein reported the Cubs remain hopeful they will be able to lure Girardi away from the Yankees.
Multiple reports this week have indicated that Joe Girardi is clearly the Cubs top choice to become the team’s next manager. The Cubs are prepared to make him the highest paid manager in the game. The Yankees are not willing to allow the Cubs, or the Nationals, to speak with Girardi until negotiations on a new deal breakdown. Girardi is under contract until October 31 and any interested parties cannot officially speak with Girardi until the November 1.
The general thought is that Girardi would only leave the Yankees for a chance to manage the Cubs. Girardi has zero ties to the Nationals or Reds and while he could take a job in the TV booth, it appears to be the Yankees or Cubs for Girardi.
According to reports out of New York, the Yankees will not offer Girardi a contract that exceeds the $7 million per year that Joe Torre was once paid. The Yankees will let Girardi go before that happens. Joel Sherman reported on Friday that he believes the Yankees offer will be for three years in the $13 million to $16 million range while Mark Feinsand reported the Yankees have “a generous offer” on the table that would make Girardi the second highest manager in the game. Girardi has to know by now, through back channels of course, what the Cubs would be willing to pay him. Rumors have suggested the Cubs are willing to go five years on a deal for Girardi worth around $6 million annually.
A lot of names have surfaced as possible candidates if the Cubs are unable to land Joe Girardi, and according to Dan Bernstein, the front office will sort through the list of uninspiring candidates only if Girardi remains in New York.
The list of possible candidates to be the Cubs’ next manager grows by the day. As previously reported, Brad Ausmus is not in the mix and Peter Gammons mentioned on Friday that the Cubs had not contacted Ausmus about the job. The Cubs are believed to be interested in talking to A.J. Hinch, Sandy Alomar Jr., Manny Acta, Tony Pena, Davey Martinez, Torey Lovullo, Eric Wedge, Trey Hillman and Tim Wallach along with Mike and Greg Maddux.
Mike Maddux
Not long after Jesse Rogers reported on ESPN Chicago that Mike Maddux is more interested in the Cubs’ managerial job now than he was two years ago, Gordon Wittenmyer shot down the report and said he is not a candidate this time around.
It is believed that Theo Epstein and the Cubs’ front office preferred Mike Maddux to Dale Sveum two years ago. Once Maddux backed out and the Red Sox stopped their pursuit of Sveum, the Cubs moved in and hired him.
Mike Maddux cited family reasons as to why he backed out of the running but according to ESPN Chicago, those are no longer a concern. Rogers did report that the Cubs have not contacted him yet about interviewing for the job.
Rumors suggested earlier in the week, that if the older Maddux were to manage the Cubs that he could bring his brother with him to be the Cubs’ new pitching coach. Could Greg Maddux have other aspirations?
Greg Maddux
According to a report from Bruce Levine, Greg Maddux is a possible choice for the Cubs’ job. Levine’s source indicated the Maddux brothers may be interviewing for the same job and the Cubs feel that either Maddux could be an impact manager.
Sandy Alomar Jr.
Two years ago Sandy Alomar Jr. reportedly interview very well when he was a candidate for the Cubs’ job. According to a report from the Sun-Times, Alomar Jr. might be the Cubs’ Plan B if they are unable to land Girardi.
Alomar Jr. might not have the big league managerial experience the Cubs are looking for, but he is a proven leader with an indirect connection to the Cubs’ front office. Not only would Alomar Jr. be able to help communicate and work with the young Latin players, that is thought to be very critical to the Cubs’ front office, but he has been working with Terry Francona for the last year and the front office would be able to get insight on his leadership skills from one of Epstein’s long-time allies in the game.
Jed Hoyer
Jed Hoyer joined David Kaplan on Friday night for his weekly spot on the David Kaplan Show (720 WGN). Hoyer discussed the managerial opening and what the front office is looking for in the Cubs’ next manager.
Hoyer said they are in the homework phase and making phone calls. Hoyer indicated the front office needs to find someone that the players really want to come and play for. They would like the manger to be a strong leader, as well as a mentor. Kaplan asked if there was a chance they would hire a guy that has never coached or managed but has only played big league ball. Hoyer said he would never say never, but he does think experience around the Major League game is important.
And for those that think a manager does not make a difference, just ask the Boston Red Sox. Ben Cherington told Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports, “The wrong person can make a big different. So can the right person.”