Bench Coach Brandon Hyde Set to Be Next Orioles Manager
Update: In what can only be called a typical Orioles move, GM Mike Elias has denied multiple reports that Brandon Hyde has been hired as manager. Per Elias, no offer has been extended and a decision is not expected this week. And why should it? I mean, they’ve still got two months before spring training. Who needs a manager now?
It was a mere six days ago that the Cubs announced they had “rounded out” Joe Maddon’s coaching staff for 2019, namely with Tommy Hottovy moving to pitching coach. That list included Brandon Hyde returning for another year as Maddon’s bench coach. T
But Hyde had been in play for the long-vacant managerial job in Baltimore and reports from the Winter Meetings proved things are not finalized just yet. Joel Sherman first reported the likelihood, then Ken Rosenthal confirmed that Hyde will become the Orioles’ next manager.
Hear the #Orioles are closing in on hiring #Cubs bench coach Brandon Hyde as their manager.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) December 12, 2018
#Cubs coach Brandon Hyde will be the #Orioles’ next manager, sources tell The Athletic. First reported as close: @JoelSherman1.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 12, 2018
This means yet another coaching position to see significant turnover in the last couple years for the Cubs. Hyde joined the team in December of 2011 as the minor league field coordinator, then served as Rick Renteria’s bench coach before working as the first base coach under Maddon from 2015-17. After Dave Martinez took the managerial job in Washington, Hyde replaced him as bench coach for the 2018 season.
In replacing Chili Davis and Jim Hickey this offseason, the Cubs have opted for hires that offer some familiarity with the organization in Hottovy and Anthony Iapoce. It remains to be seen what route they will take in finding a new bench coach, but David Ross is the name atop pretty much everyone’s list.
The Cubs have talked about him taking a more active role and have admitted that they’d like to find a player to lead the same way he did in 2015 and ’16, but his return may depend on whether he wants to get into the grind of a full season.