Former Chicago Cubs pitching coach Chris Bosio wasn’t out of a job long, as he was officially named a member of Ron Gardenhire’s coaching staff with the Detroit Tigers.
Bosio, who was the Cubs’ pitching coach for six seasons before being let go by the team after the NLCS, was named the team’s pitching coach on Thursday morning. He’ll join a group of coaches that will take over after the Brad Ausmus regime, including bench coach Steve Liddle, hitting coach Lloyd McClendon, and bullpen coach Rick Anderson.
The Cubs underwent a massive change to their coaching staff this offseason, and the pieces still haven’t fully settled into place. Hitting coach John Malle, assistant hitting coach Eric Hinske, and third base coach Gary Jones were all let go by the team, and bench coach Dave Martinez was named as the Washington Nationals’ new manager as well.
Cubs manager Joe Maddon was given authority to determine which coaches he wanted to keep, according to President Theo Epstein, but he’s opted for a clean sweep after the Cubs lost in five games to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS.
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nArguably the best pitching free agent on the market, Arrieta is going to command a big salary when he becomes available. The 2015 Cy Young winner doesn’t have the innings on his arm that most other pitchers of his age do, and he has made it clear that he won’t accept much, if any, of a discount from the Cubs, so it seems unlikely that he will return.
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nThe Cubs were forced to make moves to replace Miguel Montero before the trade deadline, and Avila proved to be a valuable piece, playing strong defense and bringing surprising pop from the catcher’s spot. The team may prefer to use Taylor Davis or Victor Caratini as a back-up to Willson Contreras this season, but it’s possible that they could sign a veteran instead.
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nThe Cubs’ bullpen had some serious issues in 2017, but Davis was far from the problem, as he converted all but one save attempt and was a lockdown reliever for the team. With the struggles of the team’s bullpen in the postseason, it’s possible that Theo Epstein and company could open their checkbooks for Davis, but it seems unlikely given their track record of not shelling out big bucks for bullpen arms.
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nDuensing had a strong season for the Cubs after a rocky start to the campaign, and he’ll be looking to get some extra coin in free agency. It’s unclear at this point if he’ll remain with the team, or if another club will offer him a significant raise, but the Cubs should be interested if he stays within their price range.
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nWith Kyle Schwarber struggling at the plate and Albert Almora struggling to hit against right-handed pitching this season, Jay became a valuable tool for Joe Maddon, batting lead-off and playing center field frequently. The team may opt to go for a more reliable lead-off option for next season, but Jay can’t be ruled out as a possible returning outfielder.
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nAfter a lengthy career, Lackey is likely done as a big league pitcher, but there’s always an outside shot that he could return on a cheap deal. That being said, if he does ride off into the sunset, the Cubs are likely going to be looking to replace two-fifths of their rotation for next season, and it won’t be an interesting task.
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nThe other catcher the Cubs brought in before the playoffs, Rivera was a solid option after being claimed on waivers from the Mets. He could be an attractive buy-low option if the Cubs want to have a veteran backstop behind Contreras.
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nUehara certainly will not command as high a salary next season if he decides to continue pitching for the Cubs after injuries derailed him late in the year. Uehara may choose to retire or play overseas instead, but it seems a reunion with Chicago is unlikely.
Jim Hickey is still expected to be named the Cubs’ new pitching coach, while Chili Davis is one of several coaching hires already announced by the team.
