The Cubs are making a lot of changes to their organization heading into 2020. They have a new manager in David Ross, new roles in player development and they'll have a new scouting director too. But one aspect that might go under the radar is the MLB coaching staff.
Ross, who doesn't have any coaching experience, might be surrounded with a few veteran coaches around him, but overall the handpicked guys from last offseason may ultimately return in 2020.
Mark Loretta - bench coach
The two-time All-Star retired after 2009 and joined the Padres baseball operations department in 2010. After nine years in San Diego, the Cubs hired Loretta as their bench coach, his first coaching job. After one season next to Joe Maddon in the Cubs dugout, he interviewed for the Cubs job and right before the Padres hired Jayce Tingler, Loretta also interviewed with San Diego.
While Loretta seems most likely to head elsewhere, maybe the front office appreciates a couple things he'd change. Loretta was on 670 The Score early in October and these comments go hand in hand with Theo Epstein's comments as well.
“We have had a lot of optional hitting practice and fielding practice,” Loretta said. “That’s something we should take a look at as well to see if that actually makes sense. There are certain training times when players need to be on their own. Team concept and team-building exercises and getting together in practice more often are very valid.”
It seems kind of simple, but it definitely will be part of the culture change the Cubs have talked about since the end of the regular season.
Tommy Hottovy - pitching coach
The casual Cubs fan had never heard of Tommy Hottovy before last offseason, but he came out of nowhere as the favorite to replace Jim Hickey, who suddenly stepped down as pitching coach after 2018. Hottovy was another handpicked coach by the front office and he's probably the safest bet to return and be a part of Ross' coaching staff.
Anthony Iapoce - hitting coach
After Chili Davis was fired the Cubs brought in Anthony Iapoce and well...the same problems that plagued the offense in 2018 continued in 2019. Iapoce started his coaching career in the Marlins farm system and then served as a roving hitting coordinator with the Blue Jays for three years. From 2013-15, he worked as a special assistant in the Cubs front office and he oversaw the hitting program for the organization's minor league system as well.
Iapoce's spent three seasons as the Rangers' hitting coach before he returned to the Cubs and became their hitting coach in 2019. There's no way the Cubs go four straight years with a new hitting coach, right? Iapoce is most likely coming back.
Will Venable - first base coach
Like Loretta, Will Venable interviewed for the Cubs manager job and he also interviewed for the opening with the Giants. Theo Epstein brought Venable into the organization in 2017 and in 2018 he was named the first base coach. Again, another handpicked guy by the front office and if he doesn't get a managerial position elsewhere, Venable is committed to sticking around with the Cubs.
Via the Chicago Sun-Times.
“My interest is really in the organization in general,” said Venable, who expects to interview early next week. “I’m just trying to do what I can to be part of the solution that’s going to get this organization back on track.”
Brian Butterfield - third base coach
If Loretta goes elsewhere, then Brian Butterfield might be an option to take over as bench coach. Again, Ross will be a first-time manager with no previous coaching experience, while Butterfield has by far the most experience on the current staff. Prior to becoming the Cubs third base coach in 2018, Butterfield coached on the Yankees, Diamondbacks, Blue Jays and Red Sox, beginning in 1994 in New York.
Or maybe you can look at Butterfield and think the Cubs want to go in a different direction. The Cubs made a clear change last offseason, hiring several young coaches, not necessarily valuing prior experience as a quality. It might not be surprising if Butterfield is replaced.
