Cubs and third-base coach Willie Harris part ways
Earlier this offseason, three Cubs coaches were let go — first-base coach Mike Napoli, assistant hitting coach Jim Adduci and bullpen coach Darren Holmes.
Today, one more Cubs coach left the team:
This sounds like a difference of opinion between manager Craig Counsell and Willie Harris on what direction that position would take going forward. It’s neither good nor bad, just a choice likely made by Harris and the team to “part ways,” as noted by Bruce Levine.
It was always assumed that Counsell would be bringing in more of “his guys” as coaches for 2025, as he wasn’t really able to do so given the timing of his hiring in 2024. It would not surprise me if other coaches, including bench coach Ryan Flaherty, might be replaced for next season.
That way, Counsell will have a staff more in tune with the way he wants to manage the Cubs.
As always, we await developments.
More than two years ago, I posted an article here headlined “The Cubs should fire Jed Hoyer.”
Last June, I posted this followup on the topic.
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That’s just so you know I am no fan of the Cubs President of Baseball Operations. While he has done some good things in that position, overall I believe his tenure can be described as “timid.” Moves that could have been made weren’t. Players who shouldn’t have been let go were. I think you’ll agree the Cubs should not be run in a “timid” fashion.
First, let’s look at some of the good things Hoyer did. In the massive selloff of the World Series core that happened in July 2021, Hoyer brought back some talent that’s beginning to make itself shown at Wrigley Field. Pete Crow-Armstrong, for one, appears to be on the cusp of being a star in this league. Kevin Alcántara got a brief taste of the major leagues last month and he still has outstanding talent. Caleb Kilian might become a useful pitcher if the Cubs would just put him in the bullpen where he belongs. And, as a return from a previous Hoyer deal, Owen Caissie looks like he’s a MLB-quality hitter.
Then there are free-agent signings such as Cody Bellinger, who had one really good year for the Cubs and one not-so-good (and note, most Cubs fans were largely in favor of the team re-signing Bellinger for the 2024 season). Shōta Imanaga was a revelation this year, both on and off the field, and at a reasonable price. While Dansby Swanson might not have had as good a year in 2024 as he did in 2023, he’s likely winning another Gold Glover this year and has become a team leader.
However, there have been some pretty bad mistakes, too. Signing Andrelton Simmons and Jonathan Villar, against the advice of team scouts, cost the Cubs $10 million that could have been invested in better players. The same was done with Trey Mancini and Tucker Barnhart, signed to two-year contracts and both released in the first year. This added $9.5 million to the 2024 payroll for players who didn’t play for the team (and Mancini didn’t play for anyone this year). Eric Hosmer, also a wasted signing, at least cost the Cubs only the minimum salary.
