Cubs interview Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux

Texas Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux talked with Chicago Cubs executives on Wednesday, becoming at least the third candidate to interview for the vacant manager’s job.

Maddux, who has helped the Rangers win back-to-back AL pennants, was scheduled to have a news conference later Wednesday.

New director of baseball operations Theo Epstein fired Mike Quade last week. The Cubs have also interviewed Phillies bench coach Pete Mackanin and Brewers hitting coach Dale Sveum.

The Rangers had an American League-high 5.37 ERA in 2008, the year before Maddux arrived. They have improved each year since, including a 3.79 ERA this season that was their lowest since 1983.

Maddux’s ability to get the most out of the Rangers’ staff — even after the loss of Cliff Lee from the 2010 AL championship team — is certainly appealing to Epstein.

In 15 major league seasons, Mike Maddux pitched for Philadelphia (1986-89), the Los Angeles Dodgers (1990, 1999), San Diego (1991-92), the New York Mets (1993-94), Pittsburgh (1995), Boston (1995-96), Seattle (1997), Montreal (1998-99) and Houston (2000).

The name Maddux will always resonate around Wrigley Field.

Maddux is the older brother of four-time Cy Young Award winner Greg Maddux, a former Cubs’ ace who later was an assistant to former Chicago GM Jim Hendry.

Greg Maddux’s departure from the Cubs as a free agent after winning the first of his four straight Cy Young awards in 1992 is still considered one of the worst episodes in the franchise’s long history of futility.

Maddux went on to star with the Braves and establish himself as one of the greatest pitchers of all-time. He returned to the Cubs in 2004 and before he was traded to the Dodgers in 2006, he got his 300th win with Chicago. He retired with 355 victories.