CHICAGO -- Former Boston Red Sox manager Grady Little was
hired by the Chicago Cubs on Friday as a scouting consultant and
assistant to general manager Jim Hendry.
Little will help evaluate trades and the Cubs' minor league
system, and assist with coaching duties during spring training.
Little managed the Red Sox the last two seasons, and he was
fired in October, two weeks after Boston lost to the New York
Yankees in Game 7 of the AL championship series. Pedro Martinez
failed to hold the lead in the game, and Little was blamed for
leaving his ace in too long.
The 54-year-old Little managed 16 seasons in the minors from
1980 through '95 and was San Diego's bullpen coach in 1996. He spent the
next three seasons as Jimy Williams' bench coach in Boston, then
had the same job the next two seasons with Jerry Manuel in
Cleveland.
He became the Red Sox manager in spring training of 2002 after
Joe Kerrigan was fired.