New MLB managerial opening could gut Craig Counsell's Cubs staff in offseason twist

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell might be in danger of losing his bench coach, as several managerial openings could lure Ryan Flaherty away from the North Side.

After missing the playoffs for the fourth straight season, the San Francisco Giants announced that manager Bob Melvin will not return next season. MLB insider Buster Olney specifically named Flaherty as a potential replacement for Melvin, who had one year left on his contract with the team.

Giants President of Baseball Operations Buster Posey is clearly looking to shake things up for his squad, who had playoff aspirations this year before a lackluster second half saw the team finish with a disappointing 81-81 record.

Ryan Flaherty's departure from the Cubs seems like a matter of time

This is the second time this year Flaherty has been mentioned as a managerial candidate. After the Baltimore Orioles fired Brandon Hyde in May, Flaherty's name immediately popped up in online rumors partially because he spent six seasons playing for the Orioles. Unlike Baltimore, Flaherty never played for the Giants, but he could fit the mold for what Posey is building.

Both men are not far removed from their playing days and Flaherty could make a better partner for Posey's leadership style, which seems focused on sustained winning and turning the organization's fortune around. The Giants have only seen two postseason runs since their 2014 World Series victory.

Flaherty is only 39 years old, but he is clearly a sought-after coach who seems destined for a promotion at some point. Another potential landing spot could be the Minnesota Twins, who also canned their skipper, Rocco Baldelli, on Monday after an abysmal 70-92 season. It will be an interesting story to keep an eye on this offseason. But for now, Flaherty will be here to see the Cubs' 2025 postseason to its end.