New GM/Cubs Future News Articles

[Guest]

Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2011/10/02/cubs_possibility_still_there_for_theo_epstein/

 

Is general manager Theo Epstein next to go through the Sox spin cycle?

 

Epstein has a year remaining on his contract, but has so far refused to deny interest in joining the Chicago Cubs. Sox chairman Tom Werner and president Larry Lucchino also spoke ambiguously about Epstein’s future Friday.

 

“The Cubs are obviously interested in Theo and the talk is not going away,’’ said a major league source yesterday. “I think it’s possible.’’

 

Efforts to reach Epstein for comment were unsuccessful.

 

 

On Sept. 23, Epstein avoided a question about the Cubs. On Aug. 31, he said he was focused on the “Red Sox of 2011.’’

 

His superiors have been equally evasive. On Friday, Lucchino said he wasn’t prepared to answer a question about whether the team would grant Epstein permission to interview with the Cubs. Werner then praised Epstein but did not say definitively that he would remain on the job.

 

Nothing new, really. But nice to see that there's some smoke in Boston too.

[Vinestal]

Why do people assume we would have to trade anything to the RedSox for Epstein? They have an option year which they could simply decide to decline on the 8th of October. Has a GM ever been traded for? I know it happens with managers but I didnt even know it was possible with non-field personel.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Why do people assume we would have to trade anything to the RedSox for Epstein? They have an option year which they could simply decide to decline on the 8th of October. Has a GM ever been traded for? I know it happens with managers but I didnt even know it was possible with non-field personel.

 

One guy said something like that, and he was clearly joking because he said we'd give up Garza and Castro.

[Joe_Cub]

Gammons yesterday on twitter

 

pgammo Peter Gammons

Is Epstein interested in Cubs? Sure. What Henry does to keep him @ co-CEO, makes Cherington GM and go forward remains to be seen.

 

https://twitter.com/#!/pgammo

[erik316wttn]

Getting Theo will be like hitting the lottery.

[Clem Fandango]

I'm fairly certain I've never been this excited for a baseball season to be over with ever.

[Wilson A2000]

Getting Theo will be like hitting the lottery.

 

Rumor is that Francona, Epstein, and Gonzalez are all tied at the hip.

[Guest]

Getting Theo will be like hitting the lottery.

 

Rumor is that Francona, Epstein, and Gonzalez are all tied at the hip.

 

Gonzalez?

 

Is this the punch line to some weird joke that I don't get or am I completely overlooking some obvious Gonzalez?

[UMFan83]

Getting Theo will be like hitting the lottery.

 

Rumor is that Francona, Epstein, and Gonzalez are all tied at the hip.

 

Gonzalez?

 

Is this the punch line to some weird joke that I don't get or am I completely overlooking some obvious Gonzalez?

 

Im guessing he means Adrian Gonzalez, but that doesn't make sense.

[Guest]

http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/7052621/source-says-50-50-theo-epstein-leave-boston-red-sox

 

"I wouldn't be shocked either way,'' the source said. "I know he's not dying in the Red Sox job, and if he went to the Cubs and they won, he'd be a Hall of Fame general manager.''

 

The Chicago Cubs have not won a World Series since 1908. The Red Sox had not won one since 1918 until Epstein became GM before the 2003 season, then won two World Series titles in the span of four seasons, in 2004 and 2007. The Cubs have a new owner, Tom Ricketts, who fired incumbent GM Jim Hendry during the season. Red Sox ownership, as recently as Friday night at the announcement of manager Terry Francona's departure, would not clarify their intentions regarding the Red Sox GM.

 

CEO Larry Lucchino noted that Epstein was still under contract. Team chairman Tom Werner said that they regarded Epstein as one of the best general managers in baseball, but went no further. Back in late August, when Cubs speculation first surfaced, majority owner John W. Henry said it only demonstrated how highly regarded Epstein was in the game, but he too stopped there.

 

 

believes in honoring a contract that has a year remaining, and feels an obligation to make sure the house is in order before he contemplates making a move. The team's September collapse, a gut punch to the entire organization and one that led to Francona's exit, has complicated his decision even further.

 

There also is the sense that the loyalty Epstein feels toward Henry is reciprocal, and that Henry would not stand in the way if Epstein wanted to pursue another opportunity. The Cubs' position is not the only one available, although it makes considerable sense in that the Cubs, like the Red Sox, have deep pockets, have a passionate following, and provide a unique opportunity for Epstein to etch his name permanently as savior of two storied franchises. The Cubs also could offer Epstein the club presidency, a position that is not available to Epstein at the Red Sox as long as Lucchino is in place.

[Guest]

Also, this tidbit from that article.

Still, any manager seeking employment with the Red Sox will want some clarity as to whom he will be working for, and customarily, GMs get to choose their manager. Epstein is overseeing the managerial search now, though Cherington also will have a key role. Among the names that have surfaced in internal discussions are Indians coach Sandy Alomar Jr., Rays coach Dave Martinez, minor league managers Ryne Sandberg and Pete Mackanin, and Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, who has a mutual option to return to St. Louis.

 

LOL

[Clem Fandango]

http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/7052621/source-says-50-50-theo-epstein-leave-boston-red-sox

 

...according to one major league baseball source close to Epstein, it's "50-50" the GM would leave for the right situation.

 

"I wouldn't be shocked either way,'' the source said. "I know he's not dying in the Red Sox job, and if he went to the Cubs and they won, he'd be a Hall of Fame general manager.''

 

The Chicago Cubs have not won a World Series since 1908. The Red Sox had not won one since 1918 until Epstein became GM before the 2003 season, then won two World Series titles in the span of four seasons, in 2004 and 2007. The Cubs have a new owner, Tom Ricketts, who fired incumbent GM Jim Hendry during the season. Red Sox ownership, as recently as Friday night at the announcement of manager Terry Francona's departure, would not clarify their intentions regarding the Red Sox GM.

 

The Cubs' position is not the only one available, although it makes considerable sense in that the Cubs, like the Red Sox, have deep pockets, have a passionate following, and provide a unique opportunity for Epstein to etch his name permanently as savior of two storied franchises. The Cubs also could offer Epstein the club presidency, a position that is not available to Epstein at the Red Sox as long as Lucchino is in place.

[Joe_Cub]

Rosenthal (basically a wishy-washy repeat of the above)

 

Ken_Rosenthal Ken Rosenthal

Rival GM says when #RedSox are in moment of crisis, "all bets are off." Meaning: Maybe Sox will allow Epstein to interview with #Cubs. #MLB

11 hours ago Favorite Retweet Reply

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

So Dave Martinez looks like he's jumping onto the list of people who I wouldn't mind seeing the next manager.

[El Duderino]

So Dave Martinez looks like he's jumping onto the list of people who I wouldn't mind seeing the next manager.

 

He's supposedly on the top of the White Sox's wish list.

[Omar]

Who are these "major league baseball sources" ?

 

Is that a job title?

[Dallas Green]

Who are these "major league baseball sources" ?

 

Is that a job title?

 

:lol: People in the biz love to talk, they just dont want their names on that stuff

[Guest]

Dallas, have you heard anything recently of any relevance to any of this?

 

 

 

Anyway, I hope we get some report in the next day or two of the Cubs at least having asked for permission to interview Theo.

[DivineBovine]

Why do people assume we would have to trade anything to the RedSox for Epstein? They have an option year which they could simply decide to decline on the 8th of October. Has a GM ever been traded for? I know it happens with managers but I didnt even know it was possible with non-field personel.

 

One guy said something like that, and he was clearly joking because he said we'd give up Garza and Castro.

 

 

Yes I was joking about Garza and Castro. But if Ozzie Freaking Guillen netted 2 supposedly top 5 prospects, then why wouldn't Boston want compensation for Epstein? I don't know about compensation for GM's, but a good GM is certainly way more valuable to a team than Ozzie freaking Guillen.

 

Even if he has an option year, why would Boston just release him if they knew he would probably get an offer from the Cubs?

[Guest]

Even if he has an option year, why would Boston just release him if they knew he would probably get an offer from the Cubs?

 

Because that's the industry standard. The White Sox wouldn't expect compensation if we hired Hahn, nor the Red Sox if we hired Cherington. Sure, Epstein currently holds that title so it's a touch trickier, but it's rumored they'd offer him the promotion of being Team President as well, plus there's quotes about Henry and Epstein having a mutual respect that they wouldn't make such demands of the Cubs.

[Vinestal]

#mlb The #RedSox likely will ask for stiff compensation if they permit Theo to leave for #Cubs, but an extension is still possible. -@BNightengale (Bob Nightengale via twitter)

 

I'm really not crazy about giving up "stiff compensation" for any GM. I'm not so sure I'd like the idea of setting our player development back significantly to acquire Epstein or any other GM, just seems like a bad idea. I'd just rather have Cherrington or Coppolella.

[Guest]

Ah, Bob Nightengale, he of the "Hendry to stay on" report right before he got fired.

[UK1679666180]

I'd give up the farm and Castro for Epstein. It won't take that but there's no more important position in baseball.

 

I think Alomar will end up with the W Sox.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Would it be the worst thing in the world to keep Bush or another interim around for anothther year and just wait for Epsteins contract to be up? If the Red Sox do then extend him, it's not like there are any guys currently out there now who we'd have missed out on, and it would also give Cherington more incentive to come over.

 

Just let Ricketts call the shots for now, and if he wants Fielder, Pujols, or any other big name free agents, just tell whoever the acting GM is to go after him.

[javy knows my name]

Would it be the worst thing in the world to keep Bush or another interim around for anothther year and just wait for Epsteins contract to be up? If the Red Sox do then extend him, it's not like there are any guys currently out there now who we'd have missed out on, and it would also give Cherington more incentive to come over.

 

Just let Ricketts call the shots for now, and if he wants Fielder, Pujols, or any other big name free agents, just tell whoever the acting GM is to go after him.

 

Absolutely not to all of this.