No Twins GM job for Cubs exec Bush: ‘I’m in the right place now’

MILWAUKEE – Longtime Cubs executive Randy Bush, who helped the Minnesota Twins win two World Series as a player, said he has not been contacted by the Twins about their general manager vacancy and has no plans to pursue the job.

“I’m happy with what I’m doing here,” said Bush, whose name came up quickly as a possible replacement for Terry Ryan, who was fired as Twins GM this past week. “I’m in the right place for me right now.”

Bush, a member of the Cubs’ front office for 12 years, is widely respected throughout the game, underscored by the fact he’s the highest-ranking team official to survive the Cubs’ regime change five years ago.

He’s in his 10^th season as a Cubs’ assistant general manager. The former college coach and minor-league hitting coordinator said he hasn’t seriously considered trying to become a GM – especially anytime soon.

“We’re focused on trying to win a World Series here,” Bush, 57, said. “It’s about as good a spot as you could be in.”

Recent reports suggest former Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos and former Red Sox GM Ben Cherington are among the candidates the Twins are considering for their vacancy. Assistant GM Rob Antony was named interim GM.

Notes: Manager Joe Maddon suggested he might use former All-Star closer Joe Nathan as one of his “middle-inning closers” until gets a first-hand look at what the right-hander has after rehabbing from a second Tommy John surgery. He’s scheduled to join the Cubs’ bullpen Sunday in Milwaukee. … Left-hander Mike Montgomery, who was acquired Wednesday from Seattle in a four-player trade, made his Cubs debut Saturday night. Entering the eighth with two out and two on, he gave up a three-run homer to lefty hitting Kirk Nieuwenhuis before getting the final out of the inning. … Maddon on Nathan’s low-90s velocity and what’s said to be a good breaking ball: “I would bet that whatever he’s been throwing it would be even a little bit more once he gets here with the adrenaline pumping and back in the big leagues.”