The Chicago Cubs’ revamp is ongoing, as former Red Sox first baseman Mike Napoli is among those who have been let go.
According to various sources, the Cubs made a few changes to their staff following another poor season. Napoli, the team’s first base coach, was one of three coaches let go, according to The Athletic.
The moves aren’t entirely surprising, and not just because the Cubs missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year. While Chicago finished above.500 (83-79 for the second year in a row), it is about to embark on its first full summer with Craig Counsell in charge after signing him to a record-breaking contract last offseason.
Counsell will most certainly try to get some of his guys on board. The Cubs hired Napoli before the 2020 season, when David Ross was the manager.
Napoli, who won the World Series with the Red Sox in 2013, started as a quality assurance coach before being promoted to first-base coach in 2022.
Napoli was well-regarded throughout his playing career, and with stops in four different locations, he should definitely get another shot at a coaching gig if he wants one. It will be intriguing to see if the Red Sox have a role for Napoli. Craig Breslow, Boston’s chief baseball officer, was part of the Chicago management office that hired Napoli in 2020, and he also played alongside the slugger on the 2013 Sox World Series winning team.
Breslow and manager Alex Cora declined to comment Monday on whether the Red Sox coaching staff may change in the future.
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