Cubs hire Astros' Bokhari as assistant GM

CHICAGO -- The Cubs' remodeling of their front office continued on Monday, when the team officially announced the hiring of Ehsan Bokhari as an assistant general manager.

The addition of Bokhari, who spent the past three seasons with the Astros, follows the hiring of Carter Hawkins on Oct. 15 as Chicago's general manager under president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer.

"I've always been committed to bringing new ideas and new philosophies into the department," Hoyer said at Hawkins' introductory press conference last week at the team's Wrigley Field offices.

Hawkins came to the Cubs from a Cleveland front office that has been heralded for its development of homegrown pitching. Going into the 2020 season, the Cubs also overhauled their player development structure and operations, including hiring vice president of scouting Dan Kantrovitz away from the A's to take over Chicago's Draft process.

The 38-year-old Bokhari started his stint with the Astros -- who face the Braves in the World Series beginning Tuesday -- as director of research and development in November 2018. He was promoted to senior director of player evaluation in '20, then senior director of strategic decision-making in '21.

Bokhari joins Jeff Greenberg and Craig Breslow (also the Cubs' vice president of pitching) as the assistant GMs under Hoyer and Hawkins. Long-time assistant GM Randy Bush -- who spent 15 seasons in that role for Chicago -- is transitioning into a special advisor role for the ballclub.

Bush has been an experienced voice for Cubs leadership dating back to the Jim Hendry days. He will continue to offer a sounding board for Hoyer.

The Cubs will also be losing Jason McLeod, who was a key member of the front office that took the reins on the North Side a decade ago. McLeod -- most recently a vice president of player personnel for the Cubs -- will not return to the organization in 2022.

McLeod worked with Theo Epstein and Hoyer with the Red Sox and was an assistant GM under Hoyer with the Padres prior to coming to Chicago with them in 2011. He had a heavy influence on the scouting and player development departments, helping construct the core that claimed the '16 World Series crown.

In recent seasons, the Cubs have aimed to improve the analytical aspects of their departments, and Bokhari fits that ongoing goal.

With the Astros, Bokhari had a hand in player evaluation across the amateur, professional and international scope. In his most recent role, he also oversaw Houston's research and development projects. Prior to working for the Astros, Bokhari spent four years as a senior analyst in the Dodgers' R&D department.