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CHICAGO -- As the storylines start to unfold regarding the Chicago Cubs' managerial position, there's at least one thing we know about free-agent-to-be manager, Joe Girardi: The New York Yankees want him back. And, according to Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, Girardi might feel the same.

"Yeah, I think he likes it here," Cashman said in a news conference Tuesday. "If you're good at what you do, you'll have opportunities to stay. He's definitely going to have that. We're going to give him a real good reason to stay. He's earned that."

Cashman said he talked to Girardi on Monday over coffee and planned to meet with his agent, Chicagoan Steve Mandell, on Wednesday. Girardi is under contract with the Yankees until the end of this month, which means the Cubs would need permission from the Yankees to discuss their opening -- at least during October -- after firing Dale Sveum on Monday. Cashman was asked if the Cubs had called yet.

"Not able to say, but he is under contract and we have an interest in trying to keep him," he said. "Joe has been consistent since we've had him here."

But we've only heard from Cashman as Giardi hasn't spoken publicly since the season ended for the Yankees on Sunday. The Yankees understand their manager might be in high demand.

"I can't speak to other opportunities," Cashman said. "We can't control what other options may be out there. If you're good at what you do, people are going to have interest."

On Monday, Cubs president Theo Epstein said he would look "first and foremost" at people with managerial experience. If Girardi re-signs with the Yankees, Epstein's options turn to a manager under contract with a team -- which would take a trade to pry away -- or one who has been let go recently, like former Mariners skipper Eric Wedge. Or one who has been out of the managerial game for some time.

But Epstein didn't rule out a rookie manager again. In lieu of experience, the ideal candidate would have to show signs of being great leader, in whatever baseball capacity they've been involved. The Cubs undoubtedly gave some insight into this when they hired Sveum in the first place, before the 2012 season. They interviewed several other candidates.
Here's an update on where some of those names are now:

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CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs had too much respect for former manager Dale Sveum to get into specifics about the reasons he was fired on Monday, but in detailing what they want in a new manager -- with a plethora of young talent on the way to the big leagues -- they told us all we need to know.

“In order for us to win with this group -- and win consistently -- we must have the best possible environment for young players to learn, develop and thrive at the major league level,” president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said. “We must have clear and cohesive communication with our players about the most important parts of the game. And, even while the organization takes a patient, long view, we must somehow establish and maintain a galvanized, winning culture around the major league club.”

The implication is Sveum failed to provide at least some of these things. Epstein said the troubles began in the first half, and a heart-to-heart meeting with Sveum after the All-Star break put him on notice. As the season wore on, Cubs brass obviously believed the changes they were seeking weren’t going to materialize with Sveum at the helm, so they fired him one year earlier than most people thought they would.

So what wasn’t working in the first half of 2013 that set off the alarms? It might have just been something in the air about the culture in Year 2 of the Epstein/Sveum regime, or maybe it was something more specific. After all, you don’t fire someone for something in the air unless a mutiny is about to take place. There was nothing so outwardly dramatic to be concerned with, so maybe it did come down to the on-field progress -- or lack thereof -- by core players.

There’s only one really important aspect that transcended the entire season, from star player to benchwarmer: The Cubs couldn’t get on base. Getting on base is the centerpiece of an Epstein offensive attack. The Cubs ranked 14th in the National League in that category. Their core players, such as Starlin Castro (.284), Anthony Rizzo (.323), Darwin Barney (.266) and even newcomer Nate Schierholtz (.301), were abysmal at reaching first. In the end, only the catchers -- Welington Castillo (.349) and Dioner Navarro (.365) -- stood out in this category.

It’s not necessarily that Sveum is directly responsible for the lack of on-base percentage -- he wasn’t going up there with a bat -- but maybe the issues were in the message. For such an important aspect of Epstein’s building process, the Cubs were making no headway. This is just one tangible example, but it provides some perspective on Sveum as a leader: The messages weren’t getting through to the liking of Epstein and the front office.

Or maybe the losing had just beaten Sveum down and the Cubs were afraid the culture change they were seeking wasn’t coming as their crop of young talent made its way to the big leagues.

Either way, there were tangible and seemingly intangible reasons for Sveum’s firing. Unless he turned out to be one of those special people who grew into an elite manager, the odds were against him staying here long term. There was just too much to do, too much to overcome, and it cost Sveum his job.

CHICAGO -- The firing of Dale Sveum had very little to do with what the former Chicago Cubs manager did wrong.

Sveum and his bosses knew when he was hired that the team would be varying degrees of bad for three or four seasons. The player development plan in the mid-to-lower minor leagues seems to be moving along nicely. A group of projected impact players might be making its way to Wrigley Field by the end of the 2014 season.

What president of baseball operations Theo Epstein desires in a manager is a stronger presence, a persona that will push his office and owner Tom Ricketts toward a championship mentality in a shorter period time than was initially planned. Epstein and Co. are held captive by a depleted baseball revenue stream. Money for the baseball operation will be limited for another three years due to a covenant agreement in the sale language of the team to the Ricketts family.

Simply put, Cubs ownership will need to be more creative in finding revenue within the business. That will be the only way they will convince a manager like Joe Girardi to come on board.

Epstein has watched with interest as his former manager with the Boston Red Sox, Terry Francona, pushes a morbidly drab Cleveland Indians organization to new heights in 2013. By insisting on some offensive help if he decided to take the job, Francona used the clout of his well-heeled résumé to leverage a commitment to win now.

Epstein knows that the plan to renovate Wrigley Field and add important revenue streams for his baseball program have fallen hopelessly behind for now. That knowledge pushes his creative and competitive nature to find a quicker route to success. What would be a smarter avenue to that goal than hiring Girardi?

This Girardi plan will also get the full endorsement of the business office, led by president Crane Kenney. Kenney is the mastermind of the renovation of Wrigley. He needs a bit more time to set his revenue plan into high gear. With the WGN TV and radio rights coming up for renewal after 2014, the team does not yet see the windfall billions coming its way until after 2018. The Cubs have lost close to 700,000 tickets sold per season since 2008. At this point, they need to stop the decline of season-ticket sales. The "Girardi factor" directs a way for season-ticket holders to see a direct path to championship baseball coming back to the north side of Chicago.

Girardi fits into all the criteria that Epstein is looking for in a manager. "The job will require someone who is dynamic," Epstein said on Monday. "It will require tremendous creativity to tackle the issues. I think we will find that in the next manager. It requires tremendous energy, and part of the reason we are here today is that we decided the job requires some change."

Girardi fits the bill in all of those areas. He would bring a world championship aura back to Chicago after winning as a player and as a manager in New York. Epstein went as far as to say that the future manager of the Cubs must at least understand the culture of "Cub Nation" before being considered for the gig. “Candidates who have the Cub experience in their background will have the built-in advantage of knowing the marketplace and the franchise," Epstein said. "[That candidate] might be better equipped in that one area to deal with that gauntlet that, at times, can be managing the Cubs. Yes, I think it helps [to have a Cubs background], [but] is it a prerequisite or does it mean it can‘t be repaired if you haven’t been through here? No.

"There is a bit more of an adjustment period when you have not been through here, as I have discovered when you come from the outside.”

Here is the complete statement issued by Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein on the firing of manager Dale Sveum:

"Today, we made the very difficult decision to relieve Dale Sveum of his duties as Cubs manager. Dale has been a committed leader for this team the last two seasons, and I want to thank him for all of his dedication and hard work. I have a lot of admiration for Dale personally, and we all learned a lot from the way he has handled the trying circumstances of the last two years, especially the last two weeks, with strength and dignity. In his own authentic and understated way, Dale always put the team first and never complained about the hand he was dealt. He and his staff helped us excel in game planning and defensive positioning, contributed to the emergence of several players, and helped put us in position to make some important trades.

"I have no doubt that -- much like Terry Francona, whom we hired in Boston after his stint with a losing Phillies club -- Dale will go on to great success with his next team. We had hoped Dale would grow with our organization to see it through the building phase to a period of sustained excellence; instead, I believe Dale, who felt the weight of losing perhaps more than any of us, will grow because of this experience and find excellence elsewhere.

"Today’s decision to pursue a new manager was not made because of wins and losses. Our record is a function of our long-term building plan and the moves we have made -- some good, a few we would like back – to further this strategy. Jed and I take full responsibility for that. Today’s decision was absolutely not made to provide a scapegoat for our shortcomings or to distract from our biggest issue -- a shortage of talent at the major league level. We have been transparent about what we are, and what we are not yet. Today’s decision, which was painful for all of us, was made to move us closer to fulfilling our ultimate long-term vision for the Cubs.

"Soon, our organization will transition from a phase in which we have been primarily acquiring young talent to a phase in which we will promote many of our best prospects and actually field a very young, very talented club at the major league level. The losing has been hard on all of us, but we now have one of the top farm systems in baseball, some of the very best prospects in the game, and a clear path forward. In order for us to win with this group -- and win consistently -- we must have the best possible environment for young players to learn, develop and thrive at the major league level. We must have clear and cohesive communication with our players about the most important parts of the game. And -- even while the organization takes a patient, long view – we must somehow establish and maintain a galvanized, winning culture around the major league club.

"I believe a dynamic new voice -- and the energy, creativity and freshness that comes with this type of change -- provides us with the best opportunity to achieve the major league environment we seek. We will begin our search immediately -- a process which will be completed before the GM meetings in early November and perhaps much sooner. There are no absolute criteria, but we will prioritize managerial or other on-field leadership experience and we will prioritize expertise developing young talent. We have not yet contacted any candidates or asked permission to speak with any candidates, but that process will begin tomorrow morning."

ST. LOUIS -- Chicago Cubs president Theo Epstein isn’t surprised by his team’s drop in attendance this season. In fact, he’s impressed with those who have come out to watch a last-place team.

“You can look at it both ways,” Epstein said before Friday night’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals. “We’ve traded 40 percent of our rotation two years in a row now and 2.6 million showed up to watch us play.”

The Cubs saw their paid attendance drop for the fifth straight season, drawing the lowest numbers since 1998. They're assured of a second consecutive last-place finish under Epstein as they rebuild the organization from top to bottom.

“All we can ask of our fans is to trust us we are working as hard as we can to make it happen,” Epstein said. “I would never spend someone’s money for them. But I will say the experience will be more rewarding if they’re around for the whole journey.”

That’s a sentiment Epstein has expressed before, asking fans to jump on board as the Cubs restock the system with talent.

“It’s a huge asset we have as an organization,” he said of Cubs fans. “I don’t doubt and will never doubt the dedication of our fans.”

Epstein likes to talk of the “health” of the organization and believes it’s better now than a year ago and the year before that. While he can’t say for sure when the team will turn the corner, he’s committed to a plan that will include spending money -- once it’s realized from new television deals and the renovation of Wrigley Field.

“That’s coming in the future, but we’re not exactly sure, yet,” Epstein explained. “The general business plan and the general baseball plan for the organization are more or less synced up.

“Do we have it down to an exact year we’re going to achieve a certain amount of wins or when we’re going to have X amount of additional dollars to spend? No. We’ve had to remain flexible because there are a lot of variables involved.”

What that means is developing the prospects, then finding the holes on the field that need to be filled. By that time money should be available to spend on specific free agents.

At least that’s the plan.

CHICAGO -- So the evaluation of Chicago Cubs manager Dale Sveum is coming. At least that’s what the Cubs front office said last week in a mini state of the union address. There’s sure to be another one next week after the season is over.

Team president Theo Epstein left the door open a bit regarding Sveum considering he’s under contract for next season and Epstein could have simply reminded everyone of that. Then again, his reasoning made sense. No matter the expectations, when a team has a dreadful season, it's incumbent on the people in charge to make sure that the losing wasn’t out of the ordinary; that there isn’t damage to the process of becoming a winner.

So the evaluation makes sense. The question is if it’s been done already and the Cubs are just waiting for the season to end or are they really going to dissect Sveum afterwards? Let’s also take Epstein at his word regarding the process and believe him that it won’t come down to wins and losses. Instead, it will be about all the ancillary things a manager can be judged on.

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CHICAGO -- The major league team may not have performed well on the field, but the Chicago Cubs believe their farm system is one of the best in the game and will turn them into a winner someday.

"If you look at where our system is now it took a huge step forward," team President Theo Epstein said Friday morning. "There's still room for growth but as far as the progress that we're making, we're right where we want to be. Who knows how other people see it, but we think we have one of the top farm systems in the game and we couldn't more excited about our future."

That future should include 2011 top draft pick Javier Baez, the poster child for the Cubs revival.

"I don't think any of us could envision he would go out and hit 37 home runs and drive in 100-plus runs," scouting director Jason McLeod said. "I don't want to say it was one for the ages but there are very few 20-year-olds that did what he did this year."

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CHICAGO -- What the Chicago Cubs front office, led By Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer, is doing with Dale Sveum and the coaching staff is not out of the ordinary. Epstein and Co. are interested in hiring the best baseball players and instructors to attain their future goals. Just as they look to sign or acquire the top young players, so will they pursue the best free agent managers and coaches.

Epstein and Hoyer like most of what Sveum and his staff have done in his two years on the job. Despite their warm and fuzzy feelings for Sveum and his coaches, it’s wise to investigate accomplished free-agent managers like Joe Girardi.

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MILWAUKEE -- The most interesting news coming out of Milwaukee this week has nothing to do with Chicago Cubs manager Dale Sveum's job status, nor the dugout arguments that occurred in the first two games. It's not the lack of offense or the Cubs cementing themselves further into last place.

The most important issue that many Cubs fans will actually end up saying "I told you so" is the near admission that the team tinkered with former All-Star Starlin Castro's approach at the plate too much.

"Starlin is somebody we just want to be himself," Cubs president Theo Epstein said earlier in the week. "He's a pretty unique hitter. I think we made efforts to introduce him to the concept of getting pitches he can really drive because in the long run that will benefit him. But if that can't be accomplished without him being himself as a hitter than you just have to let time play its course and he'll naturally evolve that way."

The Cubs and Castro made a conscious decision after months of struggles to simply let him return to the player who led the National League in hits in 2011. He started the year batting second and seeing more pitches per plate appearance than ever before. The goal was to hit the better ones for more power. The results were a dismal five months with his batting average hovering around .240, and no real uptick in his slugging percentage.

"With Starlin, if you try to throw too much at him -- which maybe at times we've been guilty of -- who knows, I think we've always been conscious of letting him be himself," Epstein said. "In his case he's at his best if he's singlemindedly himself."

The Cubs' goals were admirable but it didn't work. However, Castro holds no grudges about it. He knew they were just trying to help, but already he says he feels more comfortable going back to being the aggressive hitter that he naturally is. He's doing more of that batting leadoff now.

"When I talked to him (a couple weeks ago) I told him he's going to be in the leadoff spot the rest of the year, I said 'Be Starlin Castro,'" Sveum said. "'Don't worry about taking pitches or seeing pitches, just go back to that kid that we know that can hit.'"

Castro has done that as he's seeing less pitches and having better at-bats. He's still not the complete hitter -- and it's not like his numbers have skyrocketed -- but first the Cubs want him to return to what he was and then let nature take its course. At worst, they believe time will develop more power or perhaps more walks.

"He's in a good place right now," Epstein said. "Back to being comfortable at the plate. He understands he's supported and can be himself. I think he naturally will become a little more selective without losing his aggressiveness."

Some might wonder why the Cubs didn't just leave him alone in the first place and in hindsight the team might agree. But as Epstein and others have said, Castro is a unique hitter and the team saw an opportunity to expand his game. Now it will have to expand on its own. No more tinkering which means the old Castro might emerge for all of 2014.

"I see a much more mature type hitter," Sveum said.

Which means he'll be left alone from now on.

MILWAUKEE -- One of the things Chicago Cubs president Theo Epstein likes about his manager, Dale Sveum, is his laid-back demeanor. It was on display Wednesday afternoon as Sveum discussed his job status heading into next season -- one day after his boss did the same.

Sveum was asked if he’s hopeful a vote of confidence was coming.

“Hopefully that comes 12 days from now,” he said before his team played the Milwaukee Brewers. “They have to evaluate. The same way we evaluate the players. It’s the same thing.”

Sveum is signed through next season and has a team option for 2015. On Tuesday, Epstein indicated the manager wouldn’t be judged on wins and losses as much as player development, in-game strategy and the tone he sets in the clubhouse.

“Some things haven’t gone too well and some things have gone really well,” Sveum said.

The manager was mostly referring to the area of player development -- possibly the most important aspect of his job, considering the Cubs are in the midst of a rebuilding process. There have been mixed reviews of the Cubs' coaches in this department, with the most glaring negative coming from shortstop Starlin Castro’s season. But Castro has been better lately and other young players, including Welington Castillo and rookie Junior Lake, have had decent production.

“We have these jobs to someday get some length out of it, but we all know how baseball jobs come and go very quickly,” Sveum said. “It’s just the nature of the beast.”

Since he is under contract for next season, the bigger question might be about 2015. Will the Cubs exercise the option before the 2014 season begins so that Sveum wouldn’t be a lame-duck manager and players would know whether he would still be their boss the following year?

“It’s a cliché and all that, but I think it helps in some ways and maybe it isn’t a big deal in other ways,” Sveum said. “Who really knows what players think about that.”

So it’s business as usual for the Cubs manager until he hears something different.

To be back with the Cubs, Sveum needs his bosses to give a positive evaluation despite potential back-to-back last-place finishes.

“I would hope to think so, but I’ve been around the game long enough to understand how the whole process works,” he said.

MILWAUKEE -- If it wasn't already obvious, Chicago Cubs President Theo Epstein made it clear what his goals are for the organization on offense moving forward.

"We're clearly not even close to where we want to be, offensively,” Epstein said Tuesday afternoon before the Cubs dropped a 4-3 game to the Milwaukee Brewers. “Getting on base is going to be the hallmark of this organization. And we’re not good at it yet.”

The irony is the Cubs are pretty good at some other important offensive categories, but being first in the National League in extra base-hits and second in home runs means a whole lot less when you’re second to last in on-base percentage. There’s simply not enough men on base, often enough, when the big hits come.

“We are challenging ourselves every day to find a way to change that over the course of the long haul,” Epstein said. “How do we develop more patience here even though our really talented players tend to be more aggressive?”

That goes for the prospects who are on the rise. Epstein noted the most talented ones are the most aggressive ones. He doesn’t want to take that away from them, but the simple fact remains, year-in and year-out, the teams that get on base the most, score the most.

“We want to lead the league in getting on base and still hit for power while doing it,” Epstein said.

It’s the reason many -- if not all –- prospects have walk-ratio goals in order to move up the minor-league ladder. When they get to the major leagues the Cubs want to max out on their on-base potential.

“We’re not good at it yet,” Epstein said.

MILWAUKEE -- Former No. 1 Chicago Cubs draft pick Josh Vitters will move to left field, team president Theo Epstein said Tuesday.

Vitters was drafted No. 3 overall in 2007 as a third baseman, but his progress has been slowed by injuries and ineffectiveness.

"He's going to come to spring training ready to re-establish himself," Epstein said.

The Cubs drafted and traded for two third-base prospects this summer, forcing a move to the outfield for Vitters. He was a minor league call-up last season but struggled to a .121 batting average and .193 on-base percentage in 109 plate appearances. He had a leg injury in spring training this season, putting him behind. He had back and rib problems as well.

"He has a program in place that we've signed off on that does not include winter ball," Epstein said. "It involves making himself a more complete baseball player. Working on the mental side of the game. He's really excited about it."

Epstein wasn't as certain about another first-round pick, Brett Jackson. He also was slowed by injuries and struggled during his time in the majors last season. This year he was demoted to Double-A.

"Still to be determined," Epstein said of Jackson's immediate future. "He may end up taking the same path."

Epstein said injured prospects Jorge Soler (foot) and Albert Almora (groin) are on pace to be healthy for the start of the Arizona Fall League.

MILWAUKEE -- It should come as no surprise but just in case you weren't sure, don't expect the Chicago Cubs to be major players in free-agency come this offseason.

Team president Theo Epstein says they simply aren't ready to add in that way.

"I don't think we're going to get where we need to be through free agency for the short term," he said Tuesday.

The Cubs signed pitcher Edwin Jackson to a four-year, $52 million deal last winter so clearly Epstein isn't completely opposed to it. But the Cubs aren't ready to win and that means they aren't ready to identify free-agent needs.

Actually, the needs are too many to identify in just one area.

"Given the needs that we have, and where we are, and the likely price tags on the market I don't think we're going to have the ability to add multiple impact pieces in free agency," Epstein said.

Epstein indicated there won't be extra revenue coming in from any Wrigley Field renovation just yet -- but that isn't the major issue here. Unless something falls into their lap, the Cubs are going to add when they are ready to win. It makes sense.

"That would be nice if we could find the right guy and the right contract," Epstein said of obtaining a leadoff man. "It may be in the cards for us, but we have to be prepared for the fact it may not."

In other words, the Cubs aren’t going to go all out for a free agent. Epstein dismissed any notion of back-loading contracts for fear it could hamper the Cubs when they're ready to win. Flexibility is the key for the organization, and with so many prospects on the horizon, they need to know who's going to make it and who's not -- and then act accordingly.

"It is a very viable and sometimes attractive way to add talent," Epstein said. "Right now, given our situation on a lot of different fronts, it's not a cure to our ills."

Eventually, new revenues from the Wrigley renovation will be real and the Cubs will have a better idea of their specific needs as they get closer to winning as an organization. At that point there will be no excuses for not striking a deal with the right player. Just don't expect it for 2014.

"We're not necessarily in a position to do that," Epstein said.

Not yet, at least.

MILWAUKEE -- Chicago Cubs president Theo Epstein said top prospect Javier Baez will more than likely start 2014 at Triple-A Iowa playing shortstop. There's also a good chance that Baez will get some time at other positions, Epstein said, reiterating previous front-office statements.

"We have a shortstop now, so if we're fortunate to get to the point in time where Baez is pounding on that door and [Starlin] Castro is healthy, then we'll look to move Baez around," Epstein said Tuesday.

Baez is coming off a huge minor league season in which he hit a combined 37 home runs and drove in 111 runs in Single-A and Double-A. Since he was drafted in the first round in 2011, there has been much debate about what position he'll play in the major leagues, considering Castro is a two-time All-Star at shortstop. Outside observers have also talked about Castro changing positions, but the Cubs have never entertained that idea publicly.

Epstein raved about Baez's baseball IQ.

"I think he has a lot going forward for him ... because for a young kid he has tremendous baseball instincts," Epstein said. "Not just shortstop instincts. Not that we would ever do this, but I don't doubt he could go out and play well in the outfield. I think he could catch. I think second and third base will be positions that he can handle if and when the time is right to do that. There is a chance we experiment with that this winter in some form or another. There is a chance in spring training we look at that."

Baez is slated to play in the Arizona Fall League, so he could play somewhere other than shortstop as soon as next month.

"He's most likely to break, next year, as our Triple-A shortstop," Epstein said. "If we start hearing the pounding on the door, we can get him more exposure to other positions."

CINCINNATI -- Theo Epstein, Dale Sveum and Co. will return to Boston for the first time on June 30 as the Chicago Cubs play the Red Sox during a 2014 season that opens on March 31 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, according to the Major League Baseball schedule released on Tuesday.

Epstein spent 10 seasons as Red Sox general manager before taking over as Cubs president of baseball operations before the 2011 season. It will also be a Boston homecoming for Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer and vice president of scouting and player development Jason McCleod, who were also a part of Epstein's front office with the Red Sox. Sveum served as Red Sox third base coach during part of Epstein's tenure.

The Cubs played the Red Sox at Wrigley Field in 2011.

The Cubs' home opener will be April 4 against the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Cubs will continue their traditional series with crosstown rival, the Chicago White Sox, in a home and home series May 5-8. The first two games will be played at Wrigley Field while the latter two take place at U.S Cellular Field.

The Cubs will also play the American League East in inter-league play which includes a home and home series with the New York Yankees beginning with two games in New York on April 15 and 16. The Yankees will visit Wrigley Field on May 20 and 21.

The Cubs host Baltimore (Aug. 22-24) and visit Toronto (Sept. 8-10) as part of their interleague schedule.

See the Cubs' complete 2014 schedule here.