DALLAS — The Cubs opened the winter meetings Monday by formally announcing manager Craig Counsell’s coaching staff for 2025.
The additions, which the Sun-Times confirmed as each hire was made in the last six weeks, include third-base coach Quintin Berry and first-base coach Jose Javier. The Cubs promoted senior coordinator of pitching development Casey Jacobson to assistant pitching coach on the major-league club and moved field coordinator Mark Strittmatter to bullpen coach.
‘‘Quintin is somebody that I’ve worked with and understand what he’s going to bring, know what he’s going to bring, what he’s good at, how he’s going to impact our team,’’ Counsell said. ‘‘Jose Javier is a young coach that we did some homework on and found out really good things about him. I think he’ll be a good partner for Quintin in our baserunning.
‘‘Casey Jacobson is someone who knows the Cubs very well and has put in his work with the Cubs. . . . It was only a matter of time before we felt that Casey was going to get that opportunity.’’
The Cubs also hired A.J. Lewis, who is coming off a four-year minor-league career in the Rockies’ system, as a staff assistant.
‘‘He’s a Chicago kid who is just fresh off the playing field but really, for me, piqued my interest with what he did off the playing field as much as anything,’’ Counsell said. ‘‘He had been really accomplished off the playing field in his winters when he wasn’t playing. . . . I think he’s a young man with a really bright future in baseball.’’
In addition, the Cubs promoted Kevin Poppe to strength-and-conditioning coach and Mark Weisman to assistant strength-and-conditioning coach from the minor-league ranks.
Though Counsell made adjustments to his staff after his first year at the helm — one that got off to a late start last offseason because of his whirlwind hiring process at the beginning of November — he maintained a fair amount of consistency going into his second season.
Tommy Hottovy will enter his seventh season as pitching coach and Dustin Kelly his third as hitting coach. John Mallee and Juan Cabreja will return as assistant hitting coaches. Jonathan Mota will continue working with infielders. And Alex Smith remains the data-development-and-process coach. Garrett Lloyd and Erick Castillo will reprise their roles as bullpen catchers.
Cubs near deal with catcher Kelly
The Cubs are working toward a deal with catcher Carson Kelly, sources confirmed.
Catching depth was a priority for the Cubs going into the offseason, and they made a trade with the Angels for Matt Thaiss last month.
The more veteran Kelly, however, might pair nicely with young catcher Miguel Amaya. Kelly, 30, also has hit left-handers well the last couple of seasons, albeit with limited opportunities. He batted .303 with an .806 OPS in 43 at-bats last season against lefties.
Swanson on track for normal spring
Shortstop Dansby Swanson’s surgery on a core-muscle injury in early October ‘‘shouldn’t affect his spring training at all,’’ president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said. Hoyer specified the injury was a sports hernia.
‘‘It was interesting because he played so well in the second half,’’ Hoyer said. ‘‘I think it was the last day of the season, he made an incredible play. And then after that he talked about how he wanted to have the surgery; he felt like it was bothering him. So he kept it to himself and played through it.’’