MESA, Ariz. (AP) — Manager David Ross and the Chicago Cubs agreed Friday to extend his contract through the 2024 season, which includes the option for the team to extend it to 2025.
In the two years since he was hired to replace Joe Maddon, Ross is 105-117 with one postseason appearance.
The manager, who turns 45 next week, helped the team navigate the challenges posed by the pandemic in 2020, leading Chicago to a 34-26 record and the NL Central title in a shortened season before the Cubs were swept in two games by Miami in the wild-card series. Last season, Chicago was in first place before hitting a slump that led the team to dismantle its core of players and finish with a record of 71-91.
Chicago went from leading the division 42-33 after Zach Davies and the bullpen combined for a no-hitter over the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 24 to losing the next 11 straight. That convinced his president of baseball operations, Jed Hoyer, to disband the group that helped guide the Cubs to a World Series championship in 2016 to their first title in 108 years.
Kris Bryant was traded to San Francisco, Anthony Rizzo was dealt to the New York Yankees and Javier Baez headed to the New York Mets before the July 30 trade deadline rather than risk losing them as free agents. And Chicago finished with its worst record since winning just 66 games in 2013.
