Dale Sveum Takes Over as New Chicago Cubs Manager

Former Milwaukee Brewers hitting coach Dale Sveum has accepted an offer to be the next manager of the Chicago Cubs.

Sveum, who turns 48 next Wednesday, agreed to a three-year deal, plus a team option for a fourth year, in team president Theo Epsein’s and general manager Jed Hoyer’s first major move since taking over the Chicago club’s front office a few weeks ago.

“He’s a good manager,” Cubs reliever John Grabow, who played for Sveum at Double-A Altoona from 2001 to 2003, told ESPN. “It doesn’t surprise me he got a big league job by any means. If you would’ve asked me in Double-A if he was going to be a major league manager, I probably would’ve said he’s got a pretty good chance.”

The Cubs said Sveum – who replaces Mike Quade, Chicago’s former skipper who was given the boot after his club finished 71-91 and extended their infamous championship drought to 103 seasons – would officially be introduced as the team’s new manager at a news conference today at Wrigley Field.

Prior to being hired by Chicago, Dale Sveum also was considered to be the top candidate for the Boston Red Sox’ managerial vacancy.

Asked Thursday morning whether the Sox were out of the hunt for Sveum, Boston GM Ben Cherington replied via text:

“If he accepts the job with the Cubs we would be.”

via Washington Post
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