Chicago Cubs: Four choices to serve as David Ross' bench coach

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With David Ross officially at the helm, the Chicago Cubs will now turn their attention to rounding out the coaching staff – including Ross’ right-hand man.

A new era dawns on the North Side of Chicago. David Ross, who was introduced as the 55th manager in Chicago Cubs history on Monday at Wrigley Field, is set to lead the franchise out of the shadow of its first World Series in over a century into what we all hope will be more sustained winning.

Chicago inked Ross to a three-year deal with a team option for 2024, believing he fit what the team needed to maximize what’s left of what appears to be a quickly-closing competitive window. Speaking with the media during Monday’s press conference, there were no decisions announced on the coaching staff that will surround Ross – but it was clear that’s a chief focus for the new manager and the Cubs front office.

“The in-game stuff is going to take me a minute,” Ross said. “It’s going to be important that my bench coach is one step ahead of me until I get that feel back. I’ve sat in the dugout. I’ve managed from my seat as a player. But doing it, calling the shots, being one step ahead and being aware of the bullpen, all of those things are going to be a learned task.”

What does all this mean? You can expect Ross’ bench coach to come with plenty of experience – either as a bench coach or even as a former big league manager. He’s going to learn hard on this person initially, as he learns the ropes and transitions from player to skipper.

Here’s a list of potential candidates to keep in mind moving forward.

Chicago Cubs: Looking for more experience while turning the page

Former Chicago Cubs manager, despite all his success with the team, was known for running a loose ship – one where players largely controlled how things went on a daily basis. Which, for the most part worked. We’re talking about a run of four-straight postseason appearances, three consecutive NLCS and a World Series title.

But in 2019, the team seemed to play without a sense of urgency, falling flat down the stretch and missing out on the postseason for the first time since 2015. Maddon’s bench coach for all of this? Former big league infielder Mark Loretta.

Loretta, who interviewed for the San Diego managerial vacancy before being passed over, was there for all of this. And if there was a lack of accountability during this stretch (which he himself has admitted) – it stands to reason he’s at least partially responsible for it.

“I think coaching in this day and age is a lot like parenting. I think kids and millennials need a certain amount of structure. They need a schedule. They are so used to that. Driven around here, travel ball games, showcase events over here, all this stuff. They crave a schedule. There may be some initial pushback, but they like to have it. If you give them too much free time, that can go haywire.

For this reason alone, I have trouble believing Loretta will remain as the team’s bench coach. You have a team with an accountability problem and a carry-over from last year’s coaching staff. Not just a carry-over, but the number two in that club’s dugout. Change is necessary and Loretta seems likely to be a part of said change.

Chicago Cubs: Can the team entice Wallach to embrace the grind?

At the end of the 2019 season, Tim Wallach informed the Miami Marlins he would not be returning in his role as bench coach, citing a desire to be closer to his family in California. The question if you’re the Cubs? Is Chicago close enough?

Wallach spent the last four years under Don Mattingly in South Beach – and the five prior to that with him in Los Angeles as a member of the Dodgers coaching staff. He’s got the experience, to be sure – it all comes down to whether or not he’d want to stay in the game with such a time-heavy commitment.

A five-time All-Star during a 17-year playing career, Wallach racked up over 2,000 base hits in the Majors. He’s spent time on big league coaching staffs and as a manager in the Dodgers’ farm system. He checks a ton of those ‘experience’ boxes those firmly opposed to David Ross’ hiring as manager constantly point to as issues.

That all being said, the 62-year-old Wallach made it clear – he wasn’t retiring. But seeing him serve in more of a special advisory role in a front office seems more likely than his returning as a bench coach in 2020.

Chicago Cubs: Bring a former World Series champion manager into the mix

OK, I’ll admit. John Farrell makes a ton of sense to me.

There are strong ties between Ross and Farrell (the latter managed the former during Boston’s 2013 World Series run). Anyone who has ever donned a Red Sox cap seems to be a likely target for the Chicago front office given their organizational understanding of Boston. Plus, there’s a lot more Farrell has going for him than just his time as manager.

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Once Farrell wrapped up his playing career, he coached at his alma matter for the better part of a half-decade. From there, he joined the Cleveland Indians’ front office as director of player development before making the transition to the dugout at the Boston Red Sox pitching coach in 2006.

Of course, we know where it went from there – he managed in Toronto for a few years before coming back to Boston and winning it all in his first season at the helm, en route to Manager of the Year honors in the American League.

Again, this choice comes back to experience: this guy has held about every role imaginable during his post-playing career and that could be valuable to the Cubs and Ross.

Furthermore, he’s been working with the Cincinnati Reds for the last two years in a scouting role, so there may be some more familiarity within the National League Central.

Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport /

Chicago Cubs: Well, let’s kick it old-school, shall we?

I mean, we’re talking real old school when it comes to former Chicago Cubs skipper Jim Riggleman. He managed the team from 1995-1999, finishing above .500 just one time in the process. Since then, he’s managed in Seattle, Washington and Cincinnati, but has never really found success as the top guy in the clubhouse or in the dugout.

But that hardly means that he lacks value for a first-year manager like David Ross, a guy who needs experience and someone to lean on as he figures out his place in the grand scheme of things on a daily basis.

Last offseason, the New York Mets hired Riggleman for a very similar reason. They wanted a veteran voice in manager Mickey Callaway‘s ear to combat his lack of experience in the big job. Of course, after the club faded down the stretch, New York fired Callaway – and shortly thereafter, moved on from Riggleman, as well.

Next. Three takeaways from Davis Ross' press conference. dark

I don’t think that’s as much a ruling on the work Riggleman did in the Big Apple as it is simply the outcome of moving on from Callaway. He’s got nearly a half-century of experience the game and returning to Wrigley Field might be just what he needs to go out on a high note.

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Chicago Cubs: Four choices to serve as David Ross’ bench coach