Cubs focusing on hiring Cleveland executive as next GM

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The Cubs are closing in on hiring Cleveland assistant general manager Carter Hawkins as their new general manager, The Athletic reported Wednesday.

Sources stopped short of saying the hiring is imminent but Hawkins is considered a strong favorite for the job as the process winds down.

Hawkins, 37, has spent the last 14 seasons in Cleveland's front office, starting as a scouting intern in 2008. Before becoming assistant general manager in 2016, he held the positions of professional scouting assistant, assistant director of player development and director of player development.

Hawkins graduated from Vanderbilt in 2007 and was a catcher on the baseball team. He was teammates with former Cy Young winner David Price.

Cleveland has a track record of success in drafting and developing pitching. Their current starting staff has an impressive collection of homegrown arms, including Shane Bieber, Aaron Civale and Triston McKenzie.

The Cubs' GM job has been vacant since they promoted Jed Hoyer to team president last November, following Theo Epstein's resignation. 

Hoyer has been conducting interviews since the final weeks of the 2021 season.

Hiring a GM was considered an important first step of the offseason, a move the Cubs wanted to make before the heavy business of the offseason got underway.

Contributing: Gordon Wittenmyer

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