Reports: Cubs to hire Ross

The Chicago Cubs will reportedly hire David Ross as their next manager.

Multiple outlets confirmed the news Wednesday morning.

Ross, 42, has no managerial experience, but Cubs President Theo Epstein would be banking on the leadership Ross showed during a 15-year playing career, which culminated with the Cubs’ 2016 World Series title, and the evaluation skills Ross honed the last three seasons as a special assistant in baseball operations.

Epstein chose not to extend Joe Maddon’s contract after the Cubs missed the playoffs this year for the first time since 2014, blowing a three-game lead in the National League Central with 47 games left. They went 19-27 in one-run games and 20-36 in road night games, and Epstein said their 73.8% contact rate was the worst in baseball.

Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred, in a reversal from his deputy’s recent comments on the league’s perception of opioid abuse among players, said baseball is not sheltered from the opioid epidemic sweeping the United States and the league is working with the MLBPA on an agreement to add opioid testing for next season.

MLB doesn’t test players for opioids and other “drugs of abuse” without just cause. The only substances every player is tested for in MLB’s current joint drug agreement are the ones deemed performance enhancing.

Frank Coonelly’s 12-year run as president of the Pittsburgh Pirates is over after another losing season. The club announced that it was parting ways with Coonelly effective immediately.