CHICAGO — In his first major on-field move since becoming the team’s president of baseball operations, Theo Epstein fired Cubs manager Mike Quade on Wednesday and began the search for his replacement.
Epstein, who joined the Cubs a little more than a week ago, quickly laid out the qualifications he has in mind for the team’s next manager. One of those is managerial and/or coaching experience in the major leagues, which would eliminate a popular fan choice in Cubs Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg. The Cardinals received permission from the Phillies to interview Sandberg for their managerial vacancy created by the retirement of Tony La Russa.
A potential candidate in Chicago could be Terry Francona, Epstein’s manager in Boston who did not return to the Red Sox after their September collapse. Another name that’s been mentioned is Rays bench coach and former Cub Dave Martinez.
The Cubs finished fifth in the NL Central with a 71-91 record that extended their infamous World Series championship drought to 103 years.
Dodgers up for sale
NEW YORK — The process of finding a new owner for the Dodgers began when current boss Frank McCourt and Major League Baseball released a joint statement saying they had agreed to a court-supervised sale of the once-glamorous and now bankrupt franchise.
The price likely will break the record for a baseball franchise, topping the $845 million paid by the Ricketts family for the Cubs in 2009.
Dallas Mavericks co-owner Mark Cuban and Pittsburgh Penguins co-owner Ron Burkle, who lives in California, have been mentioned as possibilities. Former Dodgers Steve Garvey and Orel Hershiser have said they might be interested.
Footnotes.
The Red Sox interviewed Brewers hitting coach Dale Sveum for their managerial job.
• The Mets’ owners reached a tentative settlement with a widow who said they should be held accountable for losing more than $16 million in 401(k) assets by investing with incarcerated financier Bernard Madoff.
