Chicago Cubs: Dale Sveum Likely Next Manager, but Was He Their First Choice?

According to sources, Dale Sveum has been offered the job as Chicago Cubs manager. Since he is also a candidate for the Boston Red Sox job, it is uncertain what he will decide to do.

But assuming he agrees to come on board, the question is: Was he the first choice of Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer, or is he a "settle" candidate?

I ask this for two reasons.

First, there appears to have been a disconnect between Epstein and Hoyer over the candidacy of Terry Francona. It seems that Epstein was more willing than Hoyer to bring "Tito" to Chicago.

Yet before the issue ever came to a head, Francona announced that he was withdrawing his name from the search. He will pursue broadcasting jobs while he takes a year off from managing.

In essence, Francona made it plain that the Cubs were not his first choice. He strongly implied that he would have accepted the St. Louis Cardinals job had it been offered to him.

Look, watching St. Louis win the World Series is far worse to most Cubs fans than having a managerial candidate say he prefers them over us.

And at least Ryne Sandberg won't be leading the Red Birds. That would have been awkward.

The second reason I ask the question is that you have to wonder how the Mike Maddux decision affected the Cubs search.

I have a strong suspicion that Maddux would have been offered the job if he wanted it. Instead, he also withdrew his name for family considerations.

That leaves Sveum as possibly the third-best option, at least in the eyes of Epstein.

The fact that he met with Cubs owner Tom Ricketts all but ensures that an offer has been, or will be, made to Sveum.

Even if Sveum was their third choice, that doesn't mean he won't be a fine manager. I trust Epstein and Hoyer to make the right decision, and I believe in how thorough their selection process has been.

At least we know they have a history together.

In 2004, Sveum became the Red Sox third-base coach. He was in that role for two seasons before leaving to become the Milwaukee Brewers' bench coach. 

Sveum's only managerial experience was in 2008, when he took the reins from Ned Yost in Milwaukee and managed the final 12 games of the season, going 7-5.

Sveum’s strengths as an instructor would seem to suit him and the Cubs very well as Chicago embarks on a strategy to develop younger players.

Boston wants to win now, so Sveum may be a better fit in Chicago.

Plus, Sveum should be more familiar with the National League, and he makes his home in Arizona, where the Cubs train each spring.  

Sveum may not have been the Cubs prime candidate, but he looks to be their guy now. He has his work cut out for him, especially if Carlos Zambrano comes back.