Sledge not returning to Cubs in 2021

CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs will make at least one change to their coaching staff in the wake of their quick playoff exit.

Assistant hitting coach Terrmel Sledge won’t return in 2021, a source confirmed.

Sledge, 43, served as the assistant to Anthony Iapoce for the last two seasons. The Cubs offense failed miserably despite reaching the playoffs for the fifth time in six seasons, scoring one run — an Ian Happ home run — in their two losses to the Miami Marlins in their National League wild-card series.

The Cubs hit .220 with a .705 OPS in a truncated 60-game season that saw top sluggers Javier Baez, Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Kyle Schwarber experience miserable seasons.

The Athletic first reported the Cubs' decision to not tender Sledge a contract for the 2021 season, adding he could be replaced by a technically advanced specialist to blend with Iapoce.

This marks the third time in four seasons the Cubs will make a change in their major-league hitting department. After 2017, the Cubs released hitting coach John Mallee (now with the Los Angeles Angels), and assistant Eric Hinske (now with the Arizona Diamondbacks) departed. A year later, Chili Davis, now with the New York Mets, lasted only one season as hitting coach, and assistant Andy Haines left for the Milwaukee Brewers.

This latest change occurred after three weeks of conference calls evaluating the major-league club, including the coaching staff.

Cubs President Theo Epstein acknowledged in his end-of-season news conference Oct. 5 that he was involved in general conversations about a potential transition from his role, but that might not be more defined until decisions in the baseball-operations department are finalized.

Epstein added that he was pleased by the effort of manager David Ross and his coaching staff.

Sledge’s dismissal occurred shortly after Cubs third-base coach Will Venable interviewed for managerial vacancies with the Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers. Venable interviewed for managerial openings with the Houston Astros, San Francisco Giants and Cubs last winter.

The Red Sox and Tigers are in the midst of rebuilds. The Tigers are expected to talk with A.J. Hinch, also a reported candidate for the White Sox managerial opening, after his suspension is up after the World Series.

Hinch worked with Scott Bream, the Tigers vice president of player personnel, in the Padres organization in 2011-12, and they remain friends.

The Cubs hired Venable as a special assistant in the front office toward the end of the 2017 season. He was one of the holdovers on Ross' staff after interviewing for the managerial vacancy last October.