Cubs to interview Joe Girardi, David Ross for managerial opening

The Chicago Cubs have begun the interview process for a new manager, already talking with bench coach Mark Loretta on Thursday and scheduling three more interviews for next week.

Former Cubs catchers Joe Girardi and David Ross will speak with the team next week, as will first-base coach Will Venable.

The Cubs have declared an offseason of change after not retaining Joe Maddon, whose contract expired at the end of the season. They failed to make the playoffs for the first time in a half-decade.

"Selecting our new manager is just one of the many actions we'll take," Cubs owner Tom Ricketts said in a statement Friday. "We are focused on strengthening our roster, defining our team identity and fostering a culture of accountability to help us return to championship-caliber form."

Ross, who currently works in the Cubs' front office, spent the final two of his 15 major league seasons with the Cubs, winning the World Series in 2016. He was known for being among the most vocal players on the team and still has strong ties to several Cubs players.

Girardi made his big league debut with the Cubs in 1989 and also is a Chicago native and Northwestern graduate. Unlike Ross, he has managing experience, including beingvoted National League Manager of the Year after he guided the Marlins to a 78-84 record in 2006 in his only season with the team and winning the World Series with the New York Yankees in 2009.

Venable played nine seasons in the majors and has been the Cubs' first-base coach for the past two seasons.

The Cubs haven't revealed the other candidates for the job but have indicated at least one is currently coaching in the playoffs.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.