Jim Hickey steps down as Cubs pitching coach
The Chicago Cubs coaching staff was a bastion of stability during the first three years of manager Joe Maddon's tenure, beginning in 2015.
But things began changing with the coaching-staff purge in the fall of 2017, and they continue to change.
The latest exit took place Tuesday, when pitching coach Jim Hickey "stepped down," as a team statement put it, after one season on the job. The Cubs cited "personal reasons" for Hickey's resignation and said that "a search for his replacement is underway."
Earlier this offseason, the Cubs fired hitting coach Chili Davis after one year on the job. He was replaced by Anthony Iapoce. Assistant hitting coach Andy Haines left to take over as the lead hitting coach of the Milwaukee Brewers.
Cubs president Theo Epstein was not taking questions Tuesday. Instead, he issued a statement of his own, saying: "Jim Hickey notified us yesterday (Monday) of his decision to step down as pitching coach and leave the organization for personal reasons. We thank Jim for his season with the Cubs and his positive impact on our pitchers. Jim has our full support and we all wish him well."
Cubs pitchers were second in the National League in ERA (3.65) under Hickey despite starting pitcher Yu Darvish missing most of the season with injury and No. 5 starter Tyler Chatwood losing his spot in the rotation because of wildness. On top of that, closer Brandon Morrow did not pitch after the all-star break, also because of injury.
Hickey and Morrow were strongly endorsed by Maddon, who oversaw the firings of pitching coach Chris Bosio, hitting coach John Mallee and third-base coach Gary Jones after the 2017 season. Dave Martinez left the staff after the '17 season to become manager of the Washington Nationals.
So now, the Cubs will have their third pitching coach in three seasons as well as their third hitting coach in the same period. Epstein had played it coy about the coaching staff since the Cubs' season ended with a loss to the Colorado Rockies in the wild-card game.
Roster moves:
The Cubs also made roster moves Tuesday, claiming left-handed pitcher Ian Clarkin off waivers from the White Sox. Clarkin pitched as high as Class AA Birmingham in the Sox system this season.
Later in the day, the Cubs traded minor-league infielder Jason Vosler to the San Diego Padres for hard-throwing right-hander Rowan Wick. The 26-year-old Wick worked in 10 games for the Padres in 2018, going 0-1 with a 6.48 ERA.
The Cubs selected the contract of left-handed pitching prospect Justin Steele from their Class AA Tennessee roster.
Clarkin, Rowan and Wick have been added to the Cubs' 40-man roster.
Infielder Jack Reinheimer was claimed off waivers by the Texas Rangers, while outfielder Johnny Field and left-handed pitcher Jerry Vasto cleared waivers and been assigned outright to Class AAA Iowa.