New GM/Cubs Future News Articles

[shnsajax]

Now that Tampa's out can we at least get Friedman's name off the list and get moving on this list. I'm really not sure he would even interview for the position.

[Elrhino]

I certainly wouldn't be upset if we hire Epstein, I just don't think it's worth it if he's going to demand a ton of salary that could be divided up around the front office/scouting department to lure him away. I especially don't believe it's worth it if it means significant trade compensation. He brings a recongizable (ie marketable) name for media and fans to get behind, but more importantly from my general manager I want someone who has a proven winning front office blueprint, high intelligence and great decision making skills. I believe Cherington would bring over the same front office blue print as Epstein, is also highly intelligent and quite frankly Epstein's decision making skills have been questionable recently. I appreciate that Epstein uses advanced statistical models, but I suspect everyone else on Rickets list will as well. It's not really something that sets him apart.

 

On a more intangible note, I don't really like "celebrity GMs". This organization needs a lot of work and time, and I'd just as soon have a smart guy quietly working in the background than a hailed "front office messiah" that's instantly going to put the Cubs in contention. We've seen Epstein's spending habits and decision making skills when he feels the pressure to win immediately from the fanbase.

[Guest]

The Cubs have taken their first step toward Epstein: http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2011/10/cubs_ask_permis.html

 

I think this may get lost at the bottom of the page and it's our first real news, so I'm quoting it.

 

Globe colleague Dan Shaughnessy has learned from a team source that the Chicago Cubs have asked the Red Sox for permission to speak with Theo Epstein regarding a position in their organization.

According to Shaughnessy, there were meetings at Fenway Park this afternoon regarding the team's response to the request.

Because Epstein is under contract, the Red Sox would have the right to refuse such a request. They could grant it with the condition that some sort of compensation be made in exchange for hiring Epstein. Or Epstein could decline the interest.

Epstein is two months away from the ninth anniversary of his hiring as general manager of the Sox. Only seven other active general managers have been with the same team longer. He turns 38 in December and could be seeking a new challenge within baseball.

Or he could be trying to leverage the interest from the Cubs into a new contract and/or more power with the Red Sox.

Edited October 4, 2011 by David

[Guest]

Kyle assigns Theo all of the blame and some of the credit and completely ignores that Sox have averaged 90 wins a year for almost a decade; while playing in the AL East.

 

It's classic Kyle schtick.

 

I'm looking at the reasons for those 90+ wins a year and considering how likely they are to be replicated if he were hired in Chicago. I know that's a bit deeper than geeking out over 2 WS rings and a recognizable name, but try to keep up.

 

Boston's best assets have come through Boston's scouting and development system, of which Epstein has only been one part of a large whole. He won't be bringing that entire organization with him.

 

Boston's other best assets have come through trades when they were able to leverage the high-quality assets from that scouting and development system. He won't have that for at least a couple of years with the Cubs.

 

Boston's worst assets have come from the free-agent market. Especially pitching. The Cubs' best hope for the next few years is in trying to build a team through the free-agent market. Especially pitching.

 

It's worth considering that in the pantheon of awesome, stathead managers, Epstein might not be the Cubs' best fit.

Epstein is the one who put that player development organization together. He may not have been involved day to day, but he recruited the guys, set the framework and put it in motion.

[Cubs Fan Dan]

Well now I think this is going to happen, I am trying to wrap my head around what kind of compensation should be given but I really hope it does not include Castro, Garza or Jackson. I could see it being prospects starting with Wellington Castillo and prospects, or a salary swap in the Red Sox favor.

 

What is fair?

[Guest]

I'm not really expecting any type of player compensation.

[Guest]

What's a celebrity GM?

 

Freidman is a celebrity in baseball. Anyone who gets the Cubs job automatically become one.

 

Freidman is my top choice, but the Ricketts can't go wrong with any of the names.

[mookie]

I don't think any compensation is warranted.

[mookie]

I don't think any compensation is warranted.

[Elwood]

The Cubs have taken their first step toward Epstein: http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2011/10/cubs_ask_permis.html

 

Globe colleague Dan Shaughnessy has learned from a team source that the Chicago Cubs have asked the Red Sox for permission to speak with Theo Epstein regarding a position in their organization.

 

http://ninjawiththeorangetshirt.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/now-this-i-can-fap-to.jpg?w=431&h=352

[Guest]

Wonder if we'll find out tonight if they decide to grant it.

[Omar]

Wonder if we'll find out tonight if they decide to grant it.

 

According to Shaughnessy, there were meetings at Fenway Park this afternoon regarding the team's response to the request.

[Magnetic Curses]

Epstein over Jim Hendry? Exciting

Epstein over any random candidate they might have considered? Awesome.

Epstein against the pool of awesome names that have been talked about? Disappointing, a little, imo.

Please name the guys better than Epstein. I'll toss one defendable name out there in Friedman.

 

Now, please enlighten with the rest of these names.

 

I would say Beane and Epstein are on about the same level below Friedman. Beane and Epstein come with warts, and some of those warts are big enough to give a sizable pause when contemplating them taking over the reins of the Chicago Cubs organization. Personally, I would rather go with Beane over Epstein, but Beane scares me almost as much. Instead of hoping these seasoned guys overcome some of their shortcomings, I would rather take a chance on the pedigree of Cherington.

 

what are the warts?

[Guest]

Wonder if we'll find out tonight if they decide to grant it.

 

According to Shaughnessy, there were meetings at Fenway Park this afternoon regarding the team's response to the request.

 

Yes, you might have noticed when I made that size 20 font and bolded it.

[Vinestal]

Heyman tweeted he thinks the odds are 25-75 Theo stays in Boston, I'm not sure why he thinks the odds are so low, but I don't like Heyman anyway. Seems like if they weren't going to grant permission they wouldnt have had meetings about it, they would have just said no. Seems like if Theo wasn't interested they would have just said no. They could still say no, but then again does it really take meetings to come to that conclusion? So, things should get interesting. Edited October 4, 2011 by Vinestal

[Cubswin11]

Well now I think this is going to happen, I am trying to wrap my head around what kind of compensation should be given but I really hope it does not include Castro, Garza or Jackson. I could see it being prospects starting with Wellington Castillo and prospects, or a salary swap in the Red Sox favor.

 

What is fair?

Nothing more than a little cash and either a real low level minor leaguer who will never make it or a AAAA player who will never make it.

[Guest]

 

what are the warts?

Well, when a man loves'a woman...

[Omar]

Wonder if we'll find out tonight if they decide to grant it.

 

According to Shaughnessy, there were meetings at Fenway Park this afternoon regarding the team's response to the request.

 

Yes, you might have noticed when I made that size 20 font and bolded it.

 

Yeah, well you bolded it after editing it and I still had this page open as I was browsing through various articles.

[davearm2]

Kyle assigns Theo all of the blame and some of the credit and completely ignores that Sox have averaged 90 wins a year for almost a decade; while playing in the AL East.

To be fair, life in the AL East kinda sucks if you're BAL, TB, or TOR.

 

If you're NYY or BOS though, it ain't so bad, especially before TB got things figured out.

[inari]

Wow, I'm legitimately optimistic that Theo Epstein might be our general manager.

[EhDubya]

Well now I think this is going to happen, I am trying to wrap my head around what kind of compensation should be given but I really hope it does not include Castro, Garza or Jackson. I could see it being prospects starting with Wellington Castillo and prospects, or a salary swap in the Red Sox favor.

 

What is fair?

 

Uhhhh, please STOP! The Cubs will not be trading any of those guys for a GM. Justin Upton, maybe. Someone who doesn't play baseball, no chance.

[WilcoFan]

As seen with the Hendry firing, if a team wants to keep something a secret, its absolutely possible. If the Red Sox are leaking that the Cubs have asked permission AND that they're talking about it internally, there's a PR angle that they're working. I have no idea what that PR angle is, but given the meathead hatred of Epstein b/c of the collapse, it seems as if they're continuing to send up trial balloons to determine how his leaving will be accepted.

[UMFan83]

lol I'm reading comments from that article, and pretty much everyone expects at worst they get Garza for Theo. One guy said he'd want more than Garza because "the Rays gave up on him so that tells you a lot". Another guy thinks that negotiations for Epstein should START with Castro as the centerpiece in a larger compensation package.

 

Sure guys, we're going to trade our 21 year old all star SS for a GM.

[davell]

Theo wouldn't even come here if we had to give up Castro or Garza. We are pretty damn low on top end talent to begin with. If they want compensation, my guess is they'd get a Vitters type as the headliner at best. Probably more like a package of Castillo or Clevenger and Dolis or Kurcz.

[dew1679666265]

Besides Friedman, I would prefer taking a shot at an "unknown" like Hahn or Cherington before Epstein. Another poster just said he likes Epstein because he's proven what he can do, but my worries about Epstein are because we've seen what he's done. I'd consider him at the bottom of the "awesome" pile, or next-to-the-bottom above Beane.

 

My concern with one of the unknowns is the very real chance we end up with a Dayton Moore - a much hyped, well liked guy on this board who came up in a successful organization and turned out to be a horrid GM. I wouldn't complain at all if we got a Cherington, Hahn, or Coppolela, but there's more of an unknown with every one of them as to whether they can build a successful organization under them and whether they properly implement what they've learned or not. With Epstein, Friedman, or Beane we know they have the knowledge of how to build a successful organization and we know they'll implement an optimal organizational philosophy. I think you're looking for the perfect GM, and that person doesn't exist.