Theo Epstein Hired By MLB As Consultant To Evaluate Possible Rule Changes
NEW YORK (AP/CBS) — Former Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox executive Theo Epstein has been hired by Major League Baseball as a consultant for on-field matters and will evaluate possible rule changes.
Epstein will work with baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred, the owners' competition committee and analytics experts, MLB said Thursday,
"As the game evolves, we all have an interest in ensuring the changes we see on the field make the game as entertaining and action-packed as possible for the fans, while preserving all that makes baseball so special," Epstein said in a statement.
MLB is considering possible rules changes such as expanding the designated hitter to the National League. The DH was adopted by the American League for the 1973 season and was used by the NL as an experiment last year during the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Manfred would like to speed to pace of play, which rose to a record average of 3 hours, 5 minutes, 35 seconds for nine-inning games last season, up from 3:00:44 in 2018 and 2:46 in 2005.
"Theo is one of the most accomplished and thoughtful people in our sport. I am grateful that he has accepted our invitation to complement our ongoing efforts and provide his insights on making the best game in the world even better for the next generation of fans," Manfred said in a statement.
Epstein, a Brookline native, was the Red Sox general manager from 2003-11 and put together the team that won the 2004 World Series for Boston's first title since 1918. After a brief departure from the team from 2005-06, he returned and helped build another championship team in 2007.
He was the Cubs' president of baseball operations from 2012-20 and guided Chicago to the 2016 World Series title, the team's first since 1908.
"Theo is one of the most accomplished and thoughtful people in our sport," Manfred said in a statement.
