CHICAGO, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- The Chicago Cubs have reached a 3-year deal with former Yankees Manager Lou Piniella worth at least $4 million a year, the Chicago Sun-Times said.
Piniella, 63, will replace Dusty Baker who guided the Cubs within five outs of a World Series in 2003 but watched the injury-riddled team fall back into the basement of the National League Central Division with a 66-96 record last season.
Piniella was expected to be introduced as the Cubs manager at a Tuesday news conference, the newspaper said. Piniella reportedly topped General Manager Jim Hendry's candidate's list, which included former Florida Marlins Manager Joe Girardi, San Diego Padres Manager Bruce Bochy and Cubs broadcaster Bob Brenly, who was the Arizona manager when the Diamondbacks won the World Series in 2001.
"I think we'll be ready to announce something in the next couple of days," Hendry said Sunday night.
Piniella, 63, won the 1990 World Series in his first year as manager of the Cincinnati Reds and won American League manager of the year honors in 1995 and 2001 with the Seattle Mariners. He managed the Tampa Bay Devil Rays from 2003-05. He has a 1,519-1,420 overall managerial record.
