CHICAGO _ The Cubs have expanded their list of internal candidates for the manager's job to include bench coach Mark Loretta and first-base coach Will Venable.
They join David Ross, a special assistant to baseball operations, as potential replacements for Joe Maddon.
Loretta, 48, served as a bench coach for the first time in 2019 after spending nine seasons in the Padres front office as a special assistant. He never has managed but drew praise from Maddon for his skills.
Loretta, a Northwestern alumnus, spent 15 seasons as infielder for the Brewers, Astros, Padres, Red Sox and Dodgers, earning All-Star honors in 2004 and 2006.
Venable, 36, completed his second season as a coach after joining the organization as a special assistant to the general manager in September 2017.
Venable never has managed but received credit from left fielder Kyle Schwarber for his work with the outfielders. Venable spent nine seasons as an outfielder with the Padres, Rangers and Dodgers.
President Theo Epstein said Monday the team was in the process of examining external candidates and that formal interviews likely would start next week.
Epstein confirmed Ross' candidacy at a news conference Monday. Ross, like Loretta and Venable, has no managerial experience.
