Despite a great Cubs legacy, David Ross's managerial future hangs in the balance after being ruled out for Braves vacancy.
David Ross will always be a legend in the streets of Wrigleyville. His presence on those 2015 and 2016 Chicago Cubs teams helped a young core find its footing and bring the most starved fanbase in professional sports its first championship in 108 years.
From his leadership in the locker room to his fountain-of-youth performance in 2016 — capped by that unforgettable home run in Game 7 of the World Series — Ross cemented himself as a Cub for life.
But there’s no denying that his managerial tenure has complicated that legacy a bit.
The Cubs named Ross manager ahead of the 2020 season to rave reviews from fans and players alike. But his 262–284 record over four seasons opened the door for criticism as time went on.
To his credit, Ross did guide the Cubs to the playoffs in the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign. Yet by 2021, the front office had shifted toward a rebuild — trading away Anthony Rizzo, Javier Báez, Kris Bryant, and others.
There’s only so much you can do when your roster includes Alfonso Rivas, Nick Madrigal, Patrick Wisdom, and Rafael Ortega — while giving regular at-bats to Frank Schwindel and Franmil Reyes.
Yes, those were real names that got regular playing time from just three years ago, when Ross led the 2022 Cubs to a 74–88 finish...Chicago has come a long way.
Whether Ross ever got a truly fair shake as manager remains up for debate. He always seemed destined for a leadership role back when he was a player, and it’s clear the respect he commanded in the clubhouse never wavered.
Still, as of now, his path back to managing doesn’t seem imminent.
Ross told the Associated Press earlier this fall that he’s ready to manage again, even saying a return to Atlanta — where the Braves have a vacancy after moving on from Brian Snitker — “would be amazing.”
The Braves, though, don’t appear to share that enthusiasm.
According to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, “there has been no indication that either can be considered a candidate,” referring to Ross and fellow former player Mark DeRosa. Bowman reports that the Braves are focusing on a few final names, one of which is Cubs bench coach Ryan Flaherty — effectively removing Ross from consideration.
At this point, Ross may need to rebuild some goodwill before getting another managerial shot. Taking a bench coach role somewhere could help him get back into the dugout and reestablish trust before an organization hands him the top job again.
Whatever the next step looks like, Ross will always have a place in Cubs lore. Fans in Chicago will root for him to succeed anywhere he lands — even if they’re plenty happy that the franchise has moved on to bigger and better things with Craig Counsell now calling the shots at Wrigley Field.