The Cubs’ coaching staff might feature several new faces in 2018.
After deciding not to renew pitching coach Chris Bosio’s contract Friday, the Cubs lost assistant hitting coach Eric Hinske to the Los Angeles Angels on Monday. Hinske, who had been with the Cubs since December 2013, will be the Angels’ new hitting coach.
Bench coach Dave Martinez also might be leaving the Cubs. Martinez was asked by the Nationals to interview for their managerial vacancy, a job he came close to landing after the 2015 season until ownership required previous big-league managing experience.
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The Nationals, who were eliminated by the Cubs in a dramatic National League Division Series this month, were expected to get back to Martinez later in the week to schedule the interview.
‘‘I’m excited about it,’’ said Martinez, who has been manager Joe Maddon’s bench coach for the last 10 seasons, a stretch that included the Rays’ only World Series appearance in 2008 and the Cubs’ first World Series championship in more than a century last season.
Some industry insiders suggest Martinez might be a front-runner for the Nationals’ job.
Martinez, 53, interviewed with Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo for the job that eventually went to Dusty Baker, whose contract wasn’t renewed after two seasons despite back-to-back NL East titles.
Most of the Nationals’ key players return next season, including outfielder Bryce Harper and right-handers Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg.
Follow me on Twitter @GDubCub.
Email: gwittenmyer@suntimes.com
