Before the 2019 season began, we heard the whispers. Would the Chicago Cubs fire manager Joe Maddon, the man who led the team to the 2016 World Series title? And if so, would he be replaced by former New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi?

As the All-Star break approaches this month, the Cubs are struggling. They are tied with the Milwaukee Brewers for first place in the National League Central, but sit just four games over .500. And the pressure seems to be getting to Maddon, who was ejected from Thursday’s 11-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates after swapping unpleasantries with those in the Pirates dugout.

Per ESPN:

Following the game, Maddon said the Pirates have a reputation around baseball for throwing pitches up and in. “I mean, pent-up frustration is one thing, but when your guys keep getting thrown at their head that’s another thing too,” Maddon said. “It’s an industry-wide concept that we know that they are into and I have it from really good sources.” Maddon walked onto the field pointing his finger in a direction where Pirates manager Clint Hurdle was standing. West and Kris Bryant, who was on deck, teamed up to hold Maddon back while Hurdle watched from just outside the Pittsburgh dugout.

So where do the Cubs go from here? Based on what team president Theo Epstein said to the Chicago Sun-Times, it sounds like the groundwork for firing Maddon could be coming together.

Epstein came off as less than pleased when talking about his manager. He didn’t criticize Maddon as much as he called for him to adapt and improve. "Joe has a unique challenge because it’s his fifth year with this team and he’s remarkably consistent,” Epstein said. “But we all contribute to the environment, including the manager. So when players aren’t responding to the environment, I think sometimes you have to sort of do the impossible, which is try to find a new approach and new ways to reach guys while also maintaining one of your greatest strengths, which is your consistency and your ability to be the same guy whether things are going well or going poorly.” Translation: Maddon’s style has helped make him our best manager, by winning percentage, since Frank Chance a full century ago, but that style isn’t as effective in Year 5 as it was in Years 1 and 2.

Epstein sounded more forceful about possible changes while talking to Chicago’s on 670 The Score Wednesday:

“I don’t think sitting on our hands is really a viable option,” Epstein on the McNeil & Parkins Show. “We want to to be in a position to have enough belief that we’re looking to aggressively add and sort of polish up what we think can be a championship team. If we’re not, that means this stretch of bad play has continued. And if this stretch of bad play continues, then certainly ... a ton of change is in order.”

If Maddon is fired, Girardi’s name will quickly resurface. He’s already been linked to the Mets, should they fire Mickey Callaway. Girardi, who won the 2009 World Series as Yankees skipper, has made no secret about wanting to get back into the dugout. Here’s what he told the New York Daily News last month when asked if he still wanted to be a big-league manager again:

“No, that hasn’t changed. I loved every minute of it. I’ve had a chance to do it 11 years in my life (10 seasons with the Yankees and one with the Marlins). I’d like to do it again."

MLB Network’s Jon Heyman pointed out last August why Girardi would make sense in Chicago:

The early buzz is that Girardi -- a Peoria, Ill. native, Northwestern product and ex-Cub -- could eventually become a candidate here.

Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rosenstein73. Find NJ.com on Facebook.