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Cubs bench coach Brandon Hyde hasn’t been named Orioles manager yet, but it does seem like that’s going to happen soon:
Brandon Hyde will be accepting Orioles offer to manage team, I hear. Not sure why the Orioles are acting unconfident. @Ken_Rosenthal and @Joelsherman1 were on it
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 12, 2018
When Hyde leaves, the Cubs will need a new bench coach. Of course, the popular choice is David Ross, and that could very well happen.
Today, we learn of a new name thrown into the hat:
Btw, Don’t know where Cubs are with a new bench coach but Raul Ibanez is one early name I’ve heard to consider. (Besides Ross of course)
— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) December 12, 2018
Raul Ibanez hit .272/.335/.465 over 19 big-league seasons with 2,034 hits and 305 home runs. He interviewed for the manager’s job at Tampa Bay after Joe Maddon departed, but withdrew his name for family reasons.
Ibanez is currently a special assistant to Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman, who presumably would not stand in his way if Ibanez were offered a coaching position.
Other than Ibanez’ playing career, I don’t know much about his qualifications to be a bench coach. He’s never been connected with any Joe Maddon team, so there’s no common ground there. Ibanez was mentioned in a number of articles as a candidate for the Orioles job that just went to Hyde.
So, what say you about Ibanez?
Poll
Raul Ibanez for Cubs bench coach...
This poll is closed
-
11%
Yea!
(74 votes) -
5%
Nay!
(36 votes) -
55%
David Ross!
(347 votes) -
27%
Don’t know enough about him to make a choice
(172 votes)