Frank Robinson would like to join new manager Don Baylor as the Cubs’ bench coach, but he’s not sure he wants to make the commitment to a full-time coaching job at this stage of his life.
It was reported on Thursday that the Hall of Fame outfielder would be joining Baylor’s staff, with an announcement to come any day. But Robinson said the report “jumped the gun.”
“I’d like to do it for Don–I think that highly of him and I know he’s going to do a great job. The Cubs got the man they needed,” Robinson told the Tribune. “But I don’t know if I want to get back in uniform and travel.”
Robinson, 64, is director of baseball operations for the Arizona Fall League. He serves as a special assistant to Commissioner Bud Selig during the season and is an analyst for Fox Sports’ regional baseball broadcasts.
Robinson, who was treated for prostate cancer last year, has been out of uniform since 1991, when he was dismissed as manager of the Baltimore Orioles. He also managed the Cleveland Indians and the San Francisco Giants and was the Orioles’ assistant general manager before joining the commissioner’s office.
Robinson and Baylor have known each other since the early ’70s, when they played together in Baltimore.
The Arizona Fall League concluded on Thursday. Robinson was headed for his Los Angeles home after wrapping up a few administrative matters.
“I don’t want to hold Don up–I know he wants to have a staff in place,” Robinson said. “I’ve got some things to work out, and I’ll let him know in a day or two.
“I’d like to do it, but I’m not sure it’s the best thing for me at this time.”
— Dan McGrath
Players added: Both local teams fiddled with their 40-man rosters Thursday. The White Sox added third baseman Joe Crede and right-hander Jason Secoda while infielder Liu Rodriguez was outrighted to Class AAA Charlotte.
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Crede returned home from winter ball after playing just four games for Oriente in the Venezuelan League. Crede was experiencing discomfort in his heel, General Manager Ron Schueler said.
As for the Cubs, they purchased the contract of left-handed pitcher Danny Young from Class AAA Iowa. The Cubs added three other pitchers to their roster earlier this week, including Ruben Quevedo
— Teddy Greenstein