It looks like the Cubs have a new assistant hitting coach

The Cubs still haven't fully rounded out their 2019 coaching staff, but they drew a step closer Thursday.

Terrmel Sledge is the reported choice for assistant hitting coach and once the deal is official, will work under new hitting coach Anthony Iapoce:

Sources: The Cubs are planning to add Terrmel Sledge to Joe Maddon’s staff as the assistant hitting coach. Sledge worked in the Cubs’ farm system (2015) and as a Double-A hitting coach for the Dodgers (2016-18). After his big-league career, Sledge played with Yu Darvish in Japan.
— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) November 29, 2018

Can confirm @PJ_Mooney's report that the Cubs plan on hiring Terrmel Sledge as their new assistant hitting coach. Cubs were in need of a replacement for Andy Haines, who took over the main HC job in Milwaukee.

Cubs staff still incomplete. Search for new pitching coach ongoing.
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) November 29, 2018

The Cubs fired Chili Davis after just one year as hitting coach and saw assistant Andy Haines leave for the head gig with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Sledge, 41, played in the majors from 2004-07, finishing 6th in the National League Rookie of the Year voting with the Montreal Expos in '04 while hitting 15 homers and posting a .799 OPS in 446 plate appearances. He played 100 games with the Padres in 2007, posting a .210/.310/.360 slash line.

Sledge served as the assistant hitting coach in the Cubs farm system in 2015 with short-season Class-A Eugene where he worked with Ian Happ and Eloy Jimenez.

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More recently, Sledge has served as the lead hitting coach with Double-A Tulsa in the Dodgers system, helping guys like Cody Bellinger, Alex Verdugo and Willie Calhoun take the next step in 2016. Sledge also worked with Tyler Colvin in 2018 when the former Cub played 15 games and took 47 plate appearances with Tulsa.

The Cubs still have one open spot on Joe Maddon's staff as they need to replace pitching coach Jim Hickey, who officially stepped down last week.

Sledge will be one of three new coaches trying to help navigate the roster to another championship and Maddon under contract for only one more season.