Chicago Cubs: Top candidate to replace Maddon
1. John Farrell – Farrell is no stranger to managing as he has done work with the Toronto Blue Jays (2011-2012) and the Boston Red Sox (2013-2017). Farrell comes to the table with two championships under his belt, both won with the Red Sox (2007, 2013). His average is very much like Girardi’s with a .517 regular season record and .522 postseason record.
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The reason I think Farrell will be the one chosen as the Cubs next skipper is because of his relationship with Cubs president of baseball operations, Theo Epstein. Both obviously have strong Boston ties – and Farrell served as the pitching coach for the 2007 Red Sox – a club that brought the city another title.
The Cubs president of baseball operations already knows all about Farrell. He doesn’t have to tell him what he wants or what he expects; if Farrell is interviewing, it’s because he’s exactly what Epstein wants for the Cubs moving forward.
It doesn’t hurt that two of Farrell’s sons are currently working for the Cubs organization; one as a scout and the other a minor league coordinator. Do you think that Uncle Theo Epstein had anything to do with those particular hiring? I’ll let you be the judge.
Farrell has been relatively quiet since 2017, serving as a Cincinnati Reds scout and doing TV work on ESPN and Fox. Farrell not only has the celebrity thing down pat (after his analyst stints and the media circus in Boston) but has that strong relationship with Epstein that can’t be ignored.
Epstein is not looking for a manager to win in seven seasons, he needs a championship now. Why not look to someone you trust and you know can deliver? After all, it could be both their jobs if Farrell doesn’t.