The Pirates made it official Monday, naming Ben Cherington as the 13th general manager in franchise history.
Cherington succeeds Neal Huntington, who was fired on Oct. 28 after 12 years on the job.
Cherington has spent more than 20 years in baseball, including 17 with the Boston Red Sox, where he served as executive vice president/general manager for nearly four years.
Pirates owner Bob Nutting called the decision to bring Cherington aboard “an important step forward for our organization.”
“Ben has an incredible track record of success having been a part of three World Championship teams in Boston, one as general manager, and setting the table for a fourth,” Nutting said in a release posted on the Pirates’ website.