Astros Rumors: Cubs' Will Venable to Interview for Vacant Managerial Job

One result of the sign-stealing controversy for the Houston Astros is the need for a new manager after AJ Hinch was fired, and they reportedly see Chicago Cubs third base coach Will Venable as a candidate.

Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reported the news, noting the Astros will interview Venable.   

Venable played for the San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Dodgers from 2008-16 before he entered the coaching ranks.

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Cubs will reportedly grant permission to the Astros to interview Venable and "would not stand in [the] way" despite the poor timing with Spring Training around the corner.

This is not the first time he has interviewed for a managerial job, as Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reported Venable interviewed with the San Francisco Giants in October.

Venable is part of what is shaping up to be a crowded manager search for the Astros. Mark Berman of Fox 26 reported Joe Espada, Jeff Banister, Dusty Baker, Buck Showalter, Bruce Bochy and Raul Ibanez have all been seen as candidates at some point.

Whoever manages the Astros will have a loaded roster at his disposal in 2020 even with the sign-stealing controversy looming over the organization. Alex Bregman, Jose Altuve, George Springer, Carlos Correa, Justin Verlander and Zack Greinke anchor what should be a World Series contender.

Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow were fired after they were each suspended for one year as part of the punishments for the sign stealing. Houston was also fined $5 million and stripped of its first- and second-round picks in the 2020 and 2021 drafts.