San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
HOLLIDAY’S DEPARTURE IS ‘NOT IDEAL’
The resignation of Matt Holliday as the St. Louis Cardinals bench coach caught team President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak by surprise, but he’s happy with the hiring of Joe Mcewing.
Mozeliak addressed the media Saturday at Busch Stadium during the Cardinals Winter Up weekend. He said he found out that Holliday was going to step down Jan. 7.
“I’ve known Matt a long time and have the utmost respect for him,” Mozeliak said. “When you find out someone is stepping down from your coaching staff in the second week of January, candidly, it’s not ideal. But, I came in my office last Sunday, and for lack of a modern phrase, I looked at my rolodex to try and figure out what could we do.”
Mozeliak explained he explored internal moves and promotions to the position and examined what the domino effect of that would be on the organization. He also looked at what outside options he had to fill the role.
Mozeliak ended up choosing Mcewing to come in for the job. Holliday, a member of the Cardinals Hall of Fame, was announced as the team’s new bench coach Nov. 6. Now, manager Oliver Marmol’s new bench coach is Mcewing, a former Cardinals player.
“Beggars can’t be choosers but I can tell you as far as coming out on the positive side of this, I think we did,” Mozeliak said.
Mcewing, 50, spent 16 seasons in the White Sox organization. He worked his way up from minor league coach to big-league third base coach (2012-16, 2021-22) and bench coach (2017-20). Mcewing was let go after the White Sox named Pedro Grifol their new manager in November.
In nine seasons in the majors, Mcewing hit .251 with 25 home runs for the Cardinals, Mets, Royals and Astros.
Mcewing also was one of five candidates to receive interviews for the Cardinals’ managerial position following Tony La Russa’s retirement in 2011. That job went to Mike Matheny.
“We’re very fortunate to end up where we did,” Mozeliak said.
“Joe Mcewing is someone with experience. He has history with the St. Louis Cardinals. Anybody who knows him or been around him, he really does exemplify everything the Cardinals stand for. We’re really thrilled that we could end up with Joe given the short notice and the fact that look, in 31⁄2 weeks we’re down in Jupiter.”
The departure of Holliday was the fifth change to the St. Louis league staff this offseason.
Sandberg gets statue
The Cubs plan to honor Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg with a statue outside Wrigley Field and put him in an exclusive club that includes Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Ron Santo, Ferguson Jenkins and Harry Caray.
When it comes to Sammy Sosa, however, nothing has changed. They’re not ready for a reunion.
Chairman Tom Ricketts surprised Sandberg with the announcement Saturday that the statue “is in progress” during a question-andanswer session with fans, drawing a standing ovation in a crowded ballroom.
They weren’t as happy when he told them there has been no progress toward welcoming back Sosa. Ricketts said he remains hopeful a reunion will happen: “I don’t think the final chapter has been written on this.”
The Cubs are scripting another chapter with Sandberg by giving him a statue that President of Business Operations Crane Kenney said will be unveiled in 2024. The slugging and slick-fielding second baseman could not be happier.
“I’m 63 years old and things are still happening,” Sandberg said. “Something like this is a pretty cool thing, like the Hall of Fame.”
Notable
A total of 170 players agreed to contracts in the hours before Friday night’s arbitration deadline to exchange proposed salaries with teams, and just one reached a multiyear deal: Minnesota RHP Chris Paddack. While 33 players swapped figures with their clubs and remain headed toward hearings, 169 agreed to one-year contracts, including Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at $14.5 million.
Free agent OF Trey Mancini is in agreement with the Cubs on a two-year deal which includes an opt out, according to ESPN.