Chicago, IL (My Sportsbook) - The Chicago Cubs have named Dusty Baker their new manager. Baker, who was manager of the San Francisco Giants the last 10 seasons, agreed to a four-year contract with the Cubs on Friday.

The move came two days after the Giants named Felipe Alou their new manager.

Baker, a three-time National League Manager of the Year, led the Giants to the World Series this season before San Francisco lost to the Anaheim Angels in seven games. His new deal with the Cubs is believed to be worth between $14 million and $16 million.

Baker's contract with the Giants expired right after the World Series and the team announced that he wouldn't remain in San Francisco. The Giants went 95-66 in 2002 and earned the NL wild card spot.

The Cubs announced after the 2002 season they wouldn't keep interim manager Bruce Kimm as the head man for the 2003 campaign. Kimm replaced Don Baylor on July 6th, and Chicago had a dismal 67-95 record and finished 30 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central.

The 53-year-old Baker went 840-715 over the 10-season span with the Giants, finishing in first or second place in the National League West eight times. The Giants won at least 90 games five times - including each of the last three years and advanced to the postseason three times.

The Texas Rangers, New York Mets and Seattle Mariners also courted Baker, but he said he wanted to stay in the National League.

Baker takes over a team that hasn't won a World Series since 1908 and has made the playoffs only three times since 1945. The Cubs haven't had back-to-back winning seasons since 1971-72.

However, Baker believes Cubs president and general manager Andy MacPhail and team vice president of player personnel Jim Hendry, want to turn the team's bad fortunes around.

"They're really set on winning," said Baker. "I know I'm not a miracle man. I don't know if it's going to take a year, two years, or whatever, but we're dedicated to winning."

The Giants finished above the .500 mark every year since 1997, placing first or second in the division every season. Baker was named NL Manager of the Year following the 1993, 1997 and 2000 seasons. Since the inception of the Baseball Writers' Association of America award, only one manager (Tony LaRussa) has been honored more times.

There are a pair of prominent Giants who are free agents and may come to play for Baker in second baseman Jeff Kent and third baseman David Bell.

"A number of players have indicated they would probably like to come to Chicago, probably like to play for me" said Baker. "They're just dedicated to bringing in the best players that the budget will allow."

Baker spent parts of 19 seasons in the majors (1968-1986) with Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Oakland, batting .278 in 2,039 games with 242 homers and 1,013 RBI.