Oct. 28--While speculation remains rampant regarding the availability of Joe Maddon, the Chicago Cubs will look for another coach following the departure of quality assurance coach Jose Castro.
Castro, 56, who worked with current Cubs manager Rick Renteria in the Florida Marlins' and San Diego Padres' organizations before joining the Cubs last winter, has left to become the assistant hitting coach with the Atlanta Braves.
Castro, who worked as a minor league hitting instructor with the Montreal Expos, Marlins, Padres, Seattle Mariners and Kansas City Royals organizations, will work with new Braves hitting coach Kevin Seitzer.
A source said that Castro and Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez are longtime friends and that Castro's candidacy started well before Maddon exercised an opt-out clause in his contract with the Tampa Bay Rays.
This marks the third vacancy on the Cubs' staff since the end of the season. Hitting coach Bill Mueller shortly after the dismissal of assistant hitting coach Mike Brumley, and John Mallee took over Mueller's spot with Doug Dascenzo hired as first base coach (with Eric Hinske shifting from first to assistant hitting coach).
