Joe Maddon’s future with the Cubs has been a hot topic around baseball this season. Not only did he enter the 2019 season as a lame duck manager, but his team has struggled to put a stranglehold on a postseason spot.
With these factors in mind, rumors have swirled around Maddon’s status with the Cubs for 2020 and beyond. Many have pointed to David Ross as a possible replacement for Maddon - should the Cubs not retain him - though the former catcher had an interesting response to this notion.
In an interview with FanSided/WGN Radio’s Mark Carman, Ross said that while it’s a huge honor to be mentioned as a managerial candidate, he agreed with Carman that the Cubs shouldn’t move on from Maddon.
"Honestly, it’s a huge honor. People think you are the best guy to run an organization, such a prominent organization,” Ross said. “It’s a huge honor. I go back to people have no idea what Joe Maddon has brought to the team, what he has done, his resume.
"The grass isn't always greener [on the other side].”
At the same time, Ross said that he has an itch to manage someday, though it will have to be the right opportunity for him. Since Ross works as an analyst for ESPN and a special assistant to baseball operations for the Cubs, he has more time to spend with his family than he’d have as a manager.
“Do I one day have an itch to manage? That’s definitely crossed my mind with all the rumors that fly around,” he said. “And do I want to put my stamp on a team and the things I believe in? Of course. You see things, even as a casual fan, you start to want to kinda do things your way.
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“It’s all about opportunity. I think when you have to give up and sacrifice family time, it’s gotta be worth it. I don't do things halfway, I go all-in, so that’s a huge commitment from me. It’s definitely flattering to hear those rumors."
What the Cubs ultimately do with their manager position will be clearer in the near future. Even if the Cubs make the postseason (they’re currently four games back of a Wild Card spot), MLB’s offseason will follow shortly after. You can bet that the Cubs will want to make a decision on Maddon sooner rather than later.
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