The Cubs will sit down with Astros bench coach Joe Espada and recently fired Phillies manager Gabe Kapler, the team announced Monday.
Espada, 44, is interviewing with the Cubs on Monday, an off day for his Astros as they're tied 1-1 with the Yankees in the American League Championship Series. Espada is in his second season with the Astros after previously serving as the Yankees' third-base coach from 2015-'17. He worked for the Marlins prior to that and also served as the manager for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic in 2013.
Kapler, 44, was fired by the Phillies last Thursday. He went 161-163 in his two seasons leading Philadelphia, including a recently completed disappointing 81-81 campaign in which the Phillies missed the playoffs after the high-profile acquisitions of outfielder Bryce Harper and catcher J.T. Realmuto last offseason.
The Cubs previously interviewed three internal candidates in front office special assistant David Ross, first-base coach Will Venable and bench coach Mark Loretta. They also interviewed former Yankees manager Joe Girardi.
The Cubs had interest in interviewing Yankees special advisor Carlos Beltran as well, but he declined, telling reporters that he'll only interview for the Mets' managerial opening.