US baseball: Hoyer reunites with Epstein as Cubs GM

Jed Hoyer was formally introduced on Tuesday as general manager of the Chicago Cubs where he and president of baseball operations Theo Epstein will try to lead the team to their first championship in over 100 years. Hoyer, who left the San Diego Padres after two years as general manager, had previously worked as an assistant to Epstein in Boston where they helped the Red Sox win the World Series in 2004 and 2007. Also joining the Cubs from the Padres is Jason McLeod, another former Red Sox staffer, who takes over as Chicago's scouting and player development director. "I know the commitment to getting Theo, to getting Jason to getting me, wasn't the easiest process, but I appreciate that hard work," Hoyer told a news conference. Epstein, who quit as Boston general manager last month following the team's late-season collapse that left them out of the Major League Baseball postseason, paid tribute to Hoyer. "Jed has been general manager for two seasons now, but he's been thinking like a GM for a long time," said Epstein. "He has a deep understanding of the baseball landscape on and off the field. He's long been my right hand on Major League transactions, including moves that have directly led to two World Series titles." Hoyer replaces Jim Hendry, who was dismissed by the Cubs as general manager in August. The Cubs, who missed the playoffs for a third straight season after going 71-91 in 2011, have not won a World Series title since 1908. — Reuters