Former Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein has been hired as a consultant for on-field matters by the Major League Baseball Commissioner’s Office, the league announced Thursday afternoon. 

Epstein will work with the Commissioner’s Office and MLB teams to ascertain how how rule changes affect the game.

“Theo is one of the most accomplished and thoughtful people in our sport,” Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. “I am grateful that he has accepted our invitation to complement our ongoing efforts and provide his insights on making the best game in the world even better for the next generation of fans.”

“It is an honor to assist the efforts by Major League Baseball and the Competition Committee to improve the on-field product, and I appreciate Commissioner Manfred asking me to be a part of these important conversations,” Epstein said in a statement. “As the game evolves, we all have an interest in ensuring the changes we see on the field make the game as entertaining and action-packed as possible for the fans, while preserving all that makes baseball so special. I look forward to working with interested parties throughout the industry to help us collectively navigate toward the very best version of our game.”

Epstein will help guide the league at a pivotal time as MLB forges along through the ongoing pandemic and in the midst of negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement. 

Epstein has unique perspective given his time as a Hall of Fame executive working closely with ownership groups and the Major League Baseball Players Association.

Bruce Levine is a contributor to Marquee Sports Network and a baseball analyst for 670 The Score.