Nov. 23--Former Cubs catcher Henry Blanco is returning as quality assurance coach, the team announced Saturday.
Blanco becomes the first hire on new manager Joe Maddon's staff, taking the vacancy created when Jose Castro departed to become the Braves' assistant hitting coach. There are no more positions to be filled, as the Cubs named their staff before firing Rick Renteria and hiring Maddon.
Blanco spent last year as a Diamondbacks' coach on Kirk Gibson's staff after a 16-year playing career. He was a backup catcher on the Cubs from 2005-08, and one of the clubhouse leaders, along with Derrek Lee and Ryan Dempster, on the back-to-back division championship teams in '07 and '08.
Blanco often said as a player he hoped to manage after his playing career ended.
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