10-09-2021, 11:56 AM
Not surprised to see all finalists coming from small market teams with player development backgrounds.
Quote:Cubs president Jed Hoyer is narrowing his search for a new general manager, focusing on candidates with a strong history in player development. A decision could come after the divisional round of the playoffs. Per The Athletics Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney, among the final candidates are Carlos Rodriguez of the Rays, Carter Hawkins and James Harris of Cleveland, and Jeremy Zoll of the Twins. There may be other candidates, but these four at least are in the running.
Hawkins and Harris both have a hand in building Clevelands successful farm system and pitching development team. Hawkins began as an advanced scouting intern back in 2008, elevating to AGM before the 2017 season. Harris is Clevelands vice president of player development. Harris actually comes from football, having worked as Chip Kellys Chief of Staff when he was head coach of the Eagles.
Zoll is an assistant general manager in Minnesota, focusing on minor league operations. He is a Harvard alum who also worked with the Dodgers and Angels. Exposure to multiple franchises and differing ways of evaluating the game should be a boon to Zolls resume. Being a part of Minnesotas homegrown approach to team-building is also likely viewed as an asset for a Cubs team looking to create a better development engine than theyve had in recent years under Theo Epsteins reign.
As for Martinez, its not surprising to see the Cubs explore poaching a Rays executive. The Rays have proven adept at building a farm system that should keep Tampa competitive for years to come. Former Rays executives hold top positions in Los Angeles, Boston, and Houston, and theyve proven successful both in and outside of Tampa Bay. Martinez is their vice president of player development and international scouting.