Lou Piniella could be the manager of the Chicago Cubs before the World Series begins, a source told ESPN's Peter Gammons.
Team and industry sources told The Chicago Sun-Times that negotiations between Piniella and the Cubs are expected to be completed Monday, with Piniella being named the Cubs' next manager Tuesday.
''I think we'll be ready to announce something in the next couple of days,'' Cubs general manager Jim Hendry told The Sun-Times on Sunday night. ''I've been very pleased with how this process has gone.''
On Friday, Piniella took himself out of the running for the San Francisco Giants' opening. He has also spoken to the Washington Nationals and Texas Rangers, although he said the Washington job is not an ideal fit.
Piniella, 63, has been working in television since parting ways with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays after the 2005 season following three difficult years as manager. Before that he managed the Seattle Mariners for 10 seasons, won the 1990 World Series as Cincinnati Reds manager and also managed the New York Yankees.
The Cubs chose not to bring back manager Dusty Baker when his contract expired. Chicago was 66-96 this season.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.