UPDATE: The Padres have promoted Pat Murphy to interim manager, according to Major League Baseball.
The Chicago Cubs are continuing the MLB's youth movement that has characterized the 2015 season with yet another prospect call-up. In San Diego, the Padres expect to name a new manager within the next 24-48 hours after firing Bud Black on Monday.
Chicago will spend five games on the road this week against American League teams - the Cleveland Indians and Minnesota Twins - so they'll need someone to step in as their designated hitter. As a result, Jesse Rogers of ESPNChicago.com reported last night that the Cubs will call up prospect Kyle Schwarber to join the team Tuesday through Sunday.
The promotion is expected to only be for that span of six games and Schwarber will also be used as a bat off the bench and the team's third catcher. President of baseball operations Theo Epstein told Patrick Mooney of CSN Chicago that "regardless of how this week goes, Kyle will head to Triple-A after Sunday's game."
The 22-year-old was speculated to be a candidate to join the team during their streak of matchups against AL teams, as was fellow prospect Javier Baez, but he broke his finger a couple of weeks ago and will be out up to two months. Schwarber is batting .320/.438/.579/1.017 with 39 runs scored, 13 home runs and 39 RBIs in 58 games with Double-A Tennessee.
As for the Padres, the team announced the dismissal of manager Bud Black on Monday afternoon and said they would begin their search for an interim manager immediately. Bench coach Dave Roberts took over as manager last night against the Oakland Athletics, but San Diego lost 9-1.
Prior to yesterday's game, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported the Padres "will hire an interim manager within the next 24-48 hours." He also noted this morning that the club has not appeared to have contacted candidates from outside the organization and Roberts as well as Triple-A manager Pat Murphy are "the favorites to become manager."
Murphy, who the Padres refused to let join the Milwaukee Brewers coaching staff earlier this season, was on his way to San Diego last night to interview for the manager position, Peter Gammons reported.
The decision could come before tonight's game against the Oakland Athletics.
