Levine: Cubs Name Ted Lilly As Special Assistant To President/General Manager
By Bruce Levine-
(CBS) Former Cubs pitcher Ted Lilly has signed on with the team to be a special assistant to president of baseball operations Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer, it was announced Tuesday.
Lilly will be asked to do some scouting and evaluating of both the other 29 clubs as well as the Cubs. Lilly will also act as conduit and adviser in dealing with players on the team and in other baseball walks of life.
Lilly didn't know either Cubs official until meeting them at the last few Cub Conventions. His reputation was one of being a great teammate and having a work ethic above reproach.
"The last couple of years, when I had more free time (due to injury), I did start thinking about what I would do when my career was over," Lilly said. "I will try to figure out a schedule that kind of works. I would like to be around as often as possible."
The left-handed starter pitched 15 years in the majors and with the Cubs from 2007-'10. Former Cubs general manager Jim Hendry signed Lilly to a four-year, $40-million contact in December of 2006 as he was being taken to a hospital in Orlando, Fla. Hendry was having a heart attack as he finished the deal.
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.