A former favorite has apparently become Chicago’s new favorite.
David Kaplan of ESPN 1000 reports that the Chicago Cubs should engage former receiver David Ross as the new team manager on Thursday – the first day of rest for the World Series.
A very well-placed source has confirmed that David Ross should be named director of the Cubs this week. His agent discussed the contractual terms with Theo Epstein. Deal is almost finished. More information on @ ESPN1000 at 9 o’clock. On @NBCSChicago + https://t.co/VqUFW8rK8r throughout the day.
– David Kaplan (@thekapman) October 23, 2019
Ross, 42, hired as a special assistant in 2017, would become the Cubs’ youngest director since Jim Riggleman was hired a few weeks before his 42nd birthday in 1994. It would also be his first work coach ever.
“I am always more comfortable in hiring roles for which the person has assumed the role, but there are ways that can be overcome,” said the team’s president, Theo Epstein, at the end of the 2019 regular season. “Belief, skills, personal attributes can all compensate for the lack of experience.”
During his days in the game, Ross was part of two winning teams in the World Series: the Boston Red Sox in 2013 and, of course, the Cubs in 2016.
In addition to Ross, the Cubs also interviewed Joe Espada, coach of the Houston Astros, Gabe Kapler, former Phillies coach, and Joe Girardi, former Yankees coach, and Mark Loretta, coach of the Cubs, for the position of manager.
