After eight years at WBBM-AM and 25 years prior to that at WMAQ-AM, Pat Cassidy is leaving news radio for talk radio. The veteran Chicago broadcaster walked away from a contract offer at CBS newser WBBM-AM and will be joining Citadel’s WLS-AM as a talk show host, according to published reports.

From Feder:

He is expected to jump to Citadel Broadcasting news/talk WLS-AM (890), where he presumably would re-invent himself as a talk show host in a time slot to be determined.

The move was confirmed by Rod Zimmerman, senior vice president and market manager of CBS Radio Chicago and general manager of Newsradio 780.

“Pat told me he wants to do a talk show, and we wish him well,” Zimmerman said. “He’s done a great job for us for eight years.”

Also, from Rosenthal:

Pat Cassidy has left as co-host of CBS Radio’s all-news WBBM-AM 780’s high-rated morning program, station staff members were told today.

John Hultman will replace him opposite Felicia Middlebrooks on an interim basis from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m., effective tomorrow, until a successor is named in the coming weeks, according to Rod Zimmerman, senior vice president and market manager of CBS Radio Chicago and general manager of Newsradio 780.

While there has not been an official confirmation from WLS-AM, afternoon host Roe Conn did mention the news at the top of his broadcast today and alluded to a meeting of WLS execs that was ongoing this afternoon.

Presumably, Cassidy will be joining WLS in some capacity during their morning hours. The afternoon line-up of Rush Limbaugh, Roe Conn, Sean Hannity, and Mark Levin seems pretty secure.

WLS’s morning drive duo of Don Wade & Roma are nearing the end of their contracts, and it seems likely that they will not be returning in that capacity, if at all. There has been some speculation that WLS may be courting former Score morning man Mike North, who recently parted ways with The Score, or there’s been some talk about Mancow reinventing himself as a serious talker on WLS.

So what are the possibilities? More after the jump …

First, it’s possible that Pat Cassidy will be the centerpiece of a re-vamped morning drive show on WLS that will much more resemble the full-service morning show on WGN-AM, where Spike O’Dell has reigned in recent years. O’Dell is set to exit WGN shortly, and, perhaps, WLS is considering trying to capture a piece of that pie. Cassidy could potentially play the O’Dell role on WLS, surrounded by a cast of contributors and a full menu of service elements. It would mark a drastic change in direction for WLS, where provocative talk has been a staple for nearly 20 years. Going from the acerbic Don Wade to the sublime Pat Cassidy would certainly create some whiplash among listeners.

Another possibility would be for Cassidy to be teamed up with either North or Mancow. Would there be chemistry between a veteran newsman like Cassidy and either a loudmouth sports talker like North or an obnoxious shock jock like Mancow? Stranger things have happened. Mancow is filling in for Jerry Agar on WLS this week. Mancow is know to be friendly with both WLS GM Mike Fowler and WLS PD Kipper McGee. What’s interesting about the lack of response by WLS to this news is that, assuming the hiring of Cassidy was a strategic move, there has been a noticeable absence of a coordinated message from WLS suits. If they knew Cassidy was coming over, then why no press release? Why no “big announcement” on-air? Maybe it’s because Cassidy’s arrival was a last-minute deal, born out of a failed contract negotiation between Cassidy and WBBM. Perhaps Cassidy simply wanted to give talk a try, and after geting a low-ball offer from WBBM, picked up the phone, and created an opportunity for himself at WLS.

Or maybe the reason that WLS has been tight-lipped is because there’s another shoe that has yet to drop. Perhaps there is a partnership that’s yet to be revealed, of which Cassidy is just one half. It would make sense that, if there is a Cassidy & North or Cassidy & Mancow pairing in the offing, there wouldn’t be an announcement made until both sides were under contract.

Lastly, Cassidy’s addition to WLS might simply be the end of the road for Jerry Agar, who has helmed the 9-11a slot at WLS for about 18 months now. He’s not a Chicago native, and his unique style of talk hasn’t produced the kinds of results WLS would like, especially hammocked between a decent morning drive team and the monster of mid-day in Rush Limbaugh. It’s possible that Pat Cassidy will takeover for Jerry Agar.

There is much change afoot in morning drive in Chicago in the months to come. Stay tuned for more …