Deshaies joins Cubs' broadcast team
The Chicago Cubs found a replacement for color analyst Bob Brenly on their television broadcasts, hiring former Houston Astros announcer Jim Deshaies.
Deshaies will work alongside Len Kasper for games on WGN-TV, Comcast SportsNet and WCIU-TV.
"After spending the last 16 seasons with the Houston Astros, it will be a very tough organization and fan base to leave," Deshaies said in statement. "However, I can't imagine anywhere else I'd rather move than with the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. My family and I look forward to meeting the great, passionate fans of the Cubs and we're excited at what lies ahead in Chicago."
Deshaies was part of the Astros' broadcast team since 1997. He fills the Chicago vacancy created when Brenly left the Cubs' broadcast crew after last season to accept a job with the Arizona Diamondbacks' broadcast team.
Steve Farber, acting general manager of WGN-TV, said in a statement, "We look forward to sharing Jim's knowledge and experience with Cubs fans across the country on WGN and in Chicago on Comcast. We know Len and Jim will have a great partnership in the broadcast booth."
According to the Houston Chronicle, Astros team president George Postolos wrote in an email: "We value Jim highly and did everything in our power to retain him. While we are sorry to see him go, we respect his decision. We appreciate his many years as an Astros player and broadcaster and wish him well.
"Both the Astros and Comcast SportsNet Houston have already been approached by several top names in the business regarding the vacancy and look forward to finding a great analyst for next season's Astros broadcasts."
Deshaies, 52, pitched 12 seasons in the major leagues, seven of them with the Astros. He also had stints with the New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, Minnesota Twins, San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies before retiring following the 1995 season with an 84-95 record and a 4.14 ERA.
