Report: 'Industry Speculation' Is Joe Girardi Is Eyeing Cubs or White Sox Job

Former Florida Marlins and New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi remains available for teams with a job opening, though according to Jon Heyman of Fancred, Girardi may be holding out for the Chicago Cubs or Chicago White Sox position to become open a year from now:

Girardi, 54, last managed the Yankees in 2017. In 10 years in New York, he went 910-710, leading the team to six postseasons and a 2009 World Series title. In one season with the Marlins (2006), Girardi went 78-84.

As for the Cubs, the team is bringing back manager Joe Maddon for the 2019 season, but as Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported in early October, the team won't offer him a contract extension this winter. Instead, "he was told he will be evaluated after next season with his five-year, $28 million contract expiring."

The Cubs disappointed this season, especially in October, losing against the Milwaukee Brewers in an NL Central Division title game after the two sides finished the regular season with identical records. They then lost in the NL Wild Card Game against the Colorado Rockies.

That's no guarantee Maddon won't be retained, especially if the Cubs have a strong 2019 campaign, but it does leave open the possibility that the position could be Girardi's if he's indeed interested in managing for the Cubs.

The White Sox, meanwhile, went 62-100 this past season, and manager Rick Renteria's contract is up after the 2019 campaign. Unlike the Cubs, the White Sox are in a rebuilding phase, making it more likely Girardi would be targeting the Cubs out of the two teams given their playoff-ready roster.

As for his 2019 plans, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reported Friday that "it appears at the moment that Girardi’s plan is to return to MLB Network next season, though he absolutely wants to manage again. Would be surprising to see him fill any of the current openings."

So regardless of whether it's with the Cubs or not, it appears Girardi's next managerial job will come in 2020.