Cubs to interview Rays bench coach Dave Martinez for Manager opening

Per reports out of Chicago, #Rays bench coach Dave Martinez is having that interview for #Cubs job today

— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) October 17, 2013

The Rays bench coach is in Chicago this afternoon, presumably to interview for the vacancy in the Cubs dugout. Davey was a candidate for the position two years ago before Dale Sveum was handed the reins. Sveum was fired after several young players on Chicago's roster failed to improve under his watch.

"I'm very excited to have this opportunity," Martinez told mlb.com's Bill Chastain. "Getting this job would be awesome. It's where I started my whole career. [Wrigley Field] is probably the best field I've ever played on."

Martinez began his career in Chicago and played three years for the club before he was traded.

A draw for the Cubs and Theo Epstein may be Martinez's tutelage under Joe Maddon, who was the alternate candidate for Boston's manager seat before Epstein selected Francona. Martinez has served as the Rays bench coach since 2008. An original Devil Ray, Martinez played 16 seasons for eight different teams in his career.

On Monday, the Cubs interviewed Padres bench coach Rick Renteria, and have already interviewing former Nationals and Indians manager Manny Acta and former Diamondbacks manager A.J. Hinch.