David Ross ‘really attractive candidate’ for Cubs manager job; Mark Loretta, Mike Maddux might join mix

The Cubs’ managerial search could start to take a more definitive shape as soon as this week, when team president Theo Epstein said he expects to start the interview process for candidates to replace Joe Maddon.

That likely means at least an interview with bench coach Mark Loretta as Epstein acknowledged when asked about Loretta that “at least one member of our coaching staff” is on the early candidate list.

Epstein, who has exit meetings planned the coaches Tuesday, confirmed only one specific candidate – David Ross – in a process that many believe began months ago when Maddon was sent into the season without a contract extension.

He also sidestepped a question about whether another former Cubs catcher, Joe Girardi is on his list and said that “at least one” hopeful on his list is with a team in the playoffs.

“It might turn out that way,” Epstein said. “That depends how the team that’s in the playoffs will want to handle things.”

In other words, will the Cardinals make pitching coach Mike Maddux available to talk to the Cubs about managing? Maddux was a front-runner the first time Epstein hired a Cubs manager before taking himself out of the running for family reasons that no longer appear in play eight years later.

Astros bench coach Joe Espada, who has earned an industry-wide reputation in recent years as a potential manager, also could be in play (with the added benefit of bringing intel from a leading organizations).

Ross may yet prove to be the Cub manager-in-waiting that some speculate he is, but Epstein on Monday made a point to say: “His connection to the players on this team and especially his connection to the 2016 team are not necessarily assets that distinguish him – or are not necessarily things that are going to be important to us.”

That was part of a larger theme of the day during Epstein’s 81-minute session with media that stressed looking forward and “starting anew” in an effort to create the Cubs’ next championship window.

“Rossy is a really attractive candidate, and he’s going to be evaluated on the merits,” Epstein said, “for what he can bring to the table as a major-league manager, given his skills, given his experiences, given his worldview, given what he knows about winning, just like every other managerial candidate.

“We’re looking forward, we’re not looking backwards.”

Ross made a public pitch during Sunday’s “Baseball Tonight” broadcast on ESPN: “I think it’s one of the best jobs in baseball. I’ve got a lot of close ties with those guys. I think the interest would be there. I think my heart is drawn to that dugout a little bit.”

Ross, a special assistant in the Cubs’ front office, and Loretta appear to be the only in-house candidates on what Epstein called a “broad list.”

He was known a strong and vocal leader in the Cubs’ clubhouse during his two seasons with the club (2015-16), unafraid to get in teammates faces, calling out sloppiness and mental mistakes.

Epstein said his connection to that past “is not necessarily a detriment, either, as long as you trust the person to handle it the right way and trust the players to handle it the right way.”

Epstein didn’t offer a clear timeline for making the hire other than to say that “we’re full speed ahead” but haven’t asked permission to talk to any potential candidates from other teams.

“We’re not going to drag this out any longer than it needs to be, but we also want to be thorough,” he said.

Ross, Loretta and Maddux have no managerial experience – something Epstein’s track record suggests could be an issue. The two managers he hired with experience in his career, Terry Francona and Joe Maddon, both delivered championships. He fired both first-year managers he hired after a combined three seasons.

“Experience is always a factor. It’s not a determining factor, but it’s a significant factor,” Epstein said. “I always have a greater level of comfort hiring for roles in which the person’s done the role before, especially with a manager.

“But there are ways for that to be overcome, and a lot of different ways to get experience in this game. And beliefs, skills, personal attributes – those things can outweigh a lack of experience. But experience counts.”