The Cubs’ coaching staff under new manager Craig Counsell is starting to take shape. The Cubs are hiring Ryan Flaherty as bench coach, sources confirmed Wednesday.
Flaherty, formerly the Padres’ bench coach, was reportedly a finalist this offseason for the Padres’ managerial job, which went to former Cardinals manager Mike Shildt. Flaherty has spent the last four years in the Padres’ organization, beginning his post-playing career as an advance scout and development coach before climbing to quality-control coach, then bench coach.
Joining the Cubs’ coaching staff will represent a full-circle moment, of sorts. The Cubs drafted Flaherty 41st overall out of Vanderbilt in 2008. He never played for the major-league team and was selected by the Orioles in the Rule 5 Draft 3 1/2 years later. Flaherty put together an eight-year MLB career as an infielder.
The Cubs haven’t made any announcements regarding Counsell’s staff, but sources say he plans to retain pitching coach Tommy Hottovy and hitting coach Dustin Kelly, as the Sun-Times previously reported.
Even after the Cubs finalize Flaherty’s hiring — former bench coach Andy Green took a job in the Mets’ front office — they still will have holes to fill on the staff. Assistant hitting coach Johnny Washington left to become the Angels’ hitting coach, and the Cubs parted ways with bullpen coach Chris Young and catching/game-strategy coach Craig Driver after the season.
Counsell isn’t expected to make sweeping changes to the coaching staff, which remains under contract, but roles might shift. Third-base coach Willie Harris is expected to return in the same role, and assistant pitching coach Daniel Moskos and bullpen catcher Garrett Lloyd likely will be back in some capacity, sources said.
The Cubs could consider internal candidates, both in the existing coaching staff and in the pitching-development department, to fill openings on the pitching side.
The Cubs’ hitting staff last season was more robust. Including Washington, the Cubs had three assistant hitting coaches. Then, after the season and before Counsell’s hiring, the team planned to add Triple-A hitting coach John Mallee, who previously won a World Series as the Cubs’ hitting coach in 2016, to the major-league staff.
Counsell could choose to stick with the existing hitting structure or adjust it as he sees fit.
