CHICAGO -- Bench coach Brandon Hyde, who interviewed for four of the Major League managerial openings, will stay with the Cubs, but assistant hitting coach Andy Haines is reportedly headed to the Brewers as their hitting coach.
The Cubs have yet to formally announce the 2019 coaching staff, although they did name Anthony Iapoce as hitting coach on Oct. 15, replacing Chili Davis, who was dismissed. Iapoce, 45, was the Cubs' Minor League hitting coordinator from 2013-15 and spent the last three seasons as the Rangers' hitting coach.
Hyde, 45, interviewed for vacancies with the Rangers, Angels, Twins and Blue Jays. He just completed his fifth season on the Cubs' Major League coaching staff and his second as the bench coach, a role he also held in 2014.
The Brewers have yet to confirm Haines, 41, as their hitting coach, but Major League sources confirmed he was leaving the Cubs. Haines was the Cubs' Minor League hitting coordinator for two seasons before he was promoted to the big league staff this year.
Whoever joins Iapoce will have the task of figuring out how to get the Cubs' offense back on track. In the first half, Chicago led the NL with 476 runs and a .345 on-base percentage. However, in the second half, the Cubs scored 285 runs, which ranked eighth in the NL, and compiled a .316 OBP (ninth in NL).