CHICAGO -- Ryne Sandberg will not be part of Chicago Cubs manager Mike Quade's staff, according to a source familiar with the situation.
Sandberg lost out on the managerial position to Quade, whose interim tag was lifted on Oct. 19. There was some speculation that Sandberg -- who has managed in the Cubs' minor league system the past four years -- might join Quade's staff in some capacity. And the Cubs' bench coach position opened Tuesday when Alan Trammell accepted the same role with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
But Sandberg won't be on the Cubs' big-league staff next season. He's been invited to return to manage Triple-A Iowa in 2011.
After learning he lost out to Quade for the managerial spot, Sandberg admitted he was disappointed and said he needed time to digest the news and weigh his options. He said he believes he's ready to manage in the major leagues.
Quade led the Cubs to a 24-13 record over the final six weeks after Lou Piniella retired, a strong finish to a disappointing season in which Chicago finished 75-87 and in next-to-last place in the NL Central. The Cubs decided to stick with him, promoting a longtime minor league manager who had spent the past four years as their third base coach.
A franchise icon, Sandberg spent the past four years managing in the Cubs' system, working his way up from Class-A to Triple-A, and was the Pacific Coast League manager of the Year this season after Iowa went 82-62.
Sandberg was a 10-time All-Star and nine-time Gold Glove second baseman for the Cubs. He won the 1984 NL MVP Award while leading Chicago to the NL East title and its first playoff appearance since 1945, before the Cubs lost to San Diego in the league championship series.
They have made the playoffs five times since then, but their championship drought is at 102 years.
ESPNChicago.com baseball reporter Bruce Levine and The Associated Press contributed to this story.