The Chicago Cubs introduced David Ross as their new manager on Monday.

Ross has worked as a special assistant to the club for the last three years, but insists he won't manage as an extension of the front office.

"I will be making my own decisions and continue with feedback from the group," Ross said. "I want to stay true to who I am. These guys responded to me when I was here as a player. I don't think that will change as a manager."

Theo Epstein also set out to make it clear that he wouldn't be managing from his own office.

"If you're a front office and you want a puppet, you don't hire David Ross," Epstein said. "Anyone that knows Rossy, knows that. He is absolutely his own man."

New Cubs manager David Ross and team president Theo Epstein pushed back on the notion that Ross simply will be an extension of the front office after working as a special assistant in it over the past three years.

Ross is set out to be his own man.

The Chicago Cubs and Major League Baseball are holding a grievance hearing to resolve Kris Bryant's longstanding dispute with the organization over service-time manipulation.

Bryant, who has four years and 171 days of service, is scheduled to become a free agent after the 2021 season. Had the Cubs promoted him one day earlier, he would've hit the open market after 2020.

The Cubs kept Bryant in the minors until the ninth game of the 2015 season, claiming he needed to work on his defense.

The Chicago Cubs will name David Ross as their new manager.

Ross has been negotiating a deal with the Cubs this week.

According to a report, the Cubs settled on Ross for the job on Tuesday afternoon.

The Chicago Cubs have been without a manager for more than three weeks, but the wait may soon be over.

Reports indicate that the search is down to a pair of candidates: David Ross and Joe Espada.

Ross played catcher for the club and is currently a special assistant.

Espada is the bench coach for the Houston Astros.

The Cubs will interview former Philadelphia Phillies manager Gabe Kapler and Houston Astros bench coach Joe Espada this week for their vacant managerial position, the team said on Monday.

Espada is expected to interview on Monday, during an off day for the American League Championship Series between the Astros and the New York Yankees.

The Chicago Cubs have begun the interview process for a new manager, already talking with bench coach Mark Loretta on Thursday and scheduling three more interviews for next week.

Former Cubs catchers Joe Girardi and David Ross will speak with the team next week, as will first-base coach Will Venable.

The Cubs have declared an offseason of change after not retaining Joe Maddon, whose contract expired at the end of the season. They failed to make the playoffs for the first time in a half-decade.

While outlining the qualities he wants to see in the Chicago Cubs' next manager, Theo Epstein confirmed that David Ross is among the team's "broad list" of candidates.

"We haven't called to ask for permission on anybody," Epstein said. "We're full speed ahead. We're not going to drag this out any longer than it needs to be, but we're also going to be thorough."

Ross, who is currently an ESPN analyst, said on Sunday that he was interested in the job.

"David Ross has a lot of great things going for him," Epstein said. "His connection to the players on this team, and especially his connection to the 2016 team, are not necessarily assets that distinguish him or are important to us. ... Ross is an attractive candidate, and he's going to be evaluated on the merits."