Cubs Rumors: Detroit Tigers interested in third base coach Will Venable

Will Venable - Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports
Will Venable - Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Tigers are reportedly interested in Cubs third base coach Will Venable for their managerial vacancy.

The Chicago Cubs and the Detroit Tigers are in a duel for Will Venable’s talents. The Cubs third base coach is being pursued by the Tigers and the Boston Red Sox for their managerial openings.

The Tigers’ Ron Gardenhire, a cancer survivor, had an issue in Minnesota with a stomach virus, was unable to get back to good health, thus making the decision to retire. The shaking in his hands  may have been caused from being the manager of the Tigers. It became too stressful for him and he’s stepping away.

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Venable spent his nine-year career with the San Diego Padres, and then one with the Texas Rangers and the Los Angeles Dodgers (12 games). He was a two-sport star at Princeton University, and came to the Cubs and served as a special assistant to president of baseball operations Theo Epstein for 2017. He has spent 2018-2020 as the first and, then, third base coach.

So what is it that’s so different about him? For one, his intelligence. He got into Princeton. Granted, he puts up the stop sign and Javier Baez or whoever runs right by it. But Baez is different. He’s got skills. Other players, not so much. But players allowed few to be picked off on the bases, so that’s a good thing.

He called the Houston Astros interview a good thing last winter, and the Tigers would seem to be a fit for him. The team has many young guys who are ready to take the next step in the rebuilding process. Is it a fit for Venable? 

Will Epstein stay for his final year? $10 million would be a significant savings for the club. Would Jed Hoyer be the man? Or maybe he’d follow the money of Epstein? I’m not sure, but Hoyer did just buy a house on the North Side. I’m likely (don’t quote me on that) that if it’s offered, Venable  will take the Tigers’ job.

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