Cubs could be forced into coaching staff change after Alex Cora spurns Phillies opportunity

The Chicago Cubs have yet to reveal any changes to Craig Counsell's coaching staff this offseason, and an announcement likely won't come until after the World Series. One potential departure is bench coach Ryan Flaherty, who has been a rising managerial candidate in recent years.

Flaherty was connected to the vacancies of the Minnesota Twins, Baltimore Orioles, and San Diego Padres last offseason, and it would seem possible he gets connected to the opening the Philadelphia Phillies' opening this offseason.

Despite the success Don Mattingly had in Philadelphia while serving in an interim capacity, there was an expectation that former Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora would take the job this offseason. Cora was immediately asked to the take the job in April, after he was fired by the Boston Red Sox, but opted to spend the summer with his family.

As it turns out, Cora is going to spend even more time with his family. USA Today's Bob Nightengale was first to report that Cora will be taking the 2027 season off, citing a desire to remain spending time with his family.

The decision seemingly has left the Phillies scrambling. The immediate aftermath of Cora's decision has Philadelphia considering removing the interim label from Mattingly and moving forward from there.

If Phillies truly want a change of culture, Ryan Flaherty would be a clear fit

It would be a strange move by the Phillies, considering how their season ended. They nearly collapsed in September, even though they took Atlanta to Game 3 in the Wild Card series, the impression from their elimination was that it's time for a culture change. In fact, speculation over the past week has suggested that the likes of Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and Trea Turner could be available in trade talks this offseason.

Bringing in a fresh voice from the outside feels like the logical thing for the Phillies to do. Assuming the idea is to make the roster younger, and usher in a new era, Flaherty would seem like an ideal fit, considering he is the type of manager that can grow with the team.

It will be curious to see how the managerial cycle unfold this offseason. It's possible the market isn't as strong as originally expected, considering the looming work stoppage. Though, there are a number of jobs that could open in the weeks ahead, including the New York Yankees and Houston Astros. Regardless, expect Flaherty to be a popular name discussed for teams in need of a new skipper.

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