Cubs Bullpen Catcher Chad Noble Joining Pirates as Catching Coordinator

According to Jason Mackey, Pirates beat writer for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Cubs bullpen catcher Chad Noble is joining the Pirates as a catching coordinator. Drafted by the Cubs out Northwestern in 2010, Noble spent four seasons in the minors before retiring as a player and taking on the role he held for eight seasons. A favorite of the left-field bleacher bums, Noble was lured to Pittsburgh by another quirky backstop.

Chad Noble, formerly the Cubs' bullpen catcher, will join the Pirates as a catching coordinator, per sources. That's a position John Baker said in November the Pirates were looking to add.

— Jason Mackey (@JMackeyPG) January 5, 2022

Cult hero John Baker was hired by the Pirates prior to the 2020 season to serve as the organization’s director of coaching and player development. Baker had been with the Cubs for several years as both a player and then a mental skills coordinator, during which time he got to know Noble.

This is one of those losses that won’t be felt in the team’s performance, but will be noticed by those who congregate just to right (or left depending on your perspective) of the well in left field. It’s a good move for the Pirates, who are quietly building a culture that may eventually make a difference once their young talent is ready for the bigs.