Tampa Connection Rebuilding Cubs Staff

As Bruce Levine has reported, former Tampa Bay Rays pitching coach, Jim Hickey will interview with the Chicago Cubs Monday. It is suspected that Hickey’s availability is a huge reason the Cubs didn’t retain Chris Bosio.

Sources confirm The Cubs will interview Jim Hickey on Monday for the Pitching coach job. He has had interviews with Boston and St Louis .

— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) October 22, 2017

Hickey is valued around the league for developing and getting a lot out of young pitchers. But the reason he will be hired, perhaps as soon as today, is his development of bullpen arms. While Chris certainly deserved to return, Joe’s familiarity with Jim, and the Cubs regression in the bullpen is why the team is turning towards Hickey.

This might also tip the Cubs hat as to how they plan on shaping out their rotation. It also continues that Tampa connection.

The Cubs have been sweet on Alex Cobb for a while, and now that he is a free agent they are expected to talk. A career ERA of 3.50, and a couple seasons under 3.00 in the high-powered American League East. He should come at a reasonable rate. He has certain durability issues, limiting him to a career high of 179 innings (2017). He will slot just under the Jake Arrieta’s and Yu Darvish’s of the market, making him a true value signing.

This could also point to, which Bruce hinted at on WSCR-AM 670, the Cubs could make a run at Tampa’s Cris Archer.

Chris has been on the Cubs wish list since they traded him to Tampa. A power arm who has had 907 strikeouts in the past four seasons, something the Cubs rotation doesn’t possess.  It there is still some risk with Archer. He has a career WHIP of 1.214, and in each of his last two years his WHIP has been worse than the career mark.

Could a reunion with the Cubs organization, Joe, and Jim be in the cards? It will certainly take more than Ian Happ to do it. 

Jamie Baker

Hi, I’m Jamie and I run this site. I’ve published work on multiple other sites and through that experience I decided to create CHICAGO style SPORTS. We truly aim to speak for the Chicago fan. Additionally, as a member of the IBWAA (Internet Baseball Writers Association of America) you can be assured that all content you read will be written with incredible integrity.

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