Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated says Cubs manager Lou Piniella is expected to retire when his contract expires after this year. The likely replacement is former Cubs’ All-Star second baseman – Ryne Sandberg.

Back in May there was already speculation that Piniella would be done after the season and Chicago White Sox broadcaster Steve Stone said the next Cubs manager should be current Yankees skipper Joe Girardi.

“The man who should manage the Chicago Cubs is not the man who will manage the Chicago Cubs, because I believe that the Ricketts family will bow to the pressure of the tidal wave that is Ryne Sandberg,” Stone said.

Sandberg, 50, has been a field manager since 2006 and is currently at Triple-A Iowa.