Cubs Fire Manager Sveum After Last-Place Finish

The Chicago Cubs have fired manager Dale Sveum after finishing last in the NL Central for the first time in seven years.

The Cubs closed the campaign dropping 41 of their final 59 games, including six of their final seven.

They finished 66-96 this season and Sveum went 127-197 in his two seasons at the helm. He has one year left on a three-year deal signed before the 2012 season.

Sveum's job security was undoubtedly hurt by the slow development of shortstop Starlin Castro and first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who appeared to regress this year.

Sveum's dismissal likely will ramp up speculation surrounding the status of Yankees manager Joe Girardi, a Peoria native who played college ball at nearby Northwestern, and played for the Cubs from 1989-1992 and again from 2000-2002.