Re: New GM/Cubs Future News Articles

[C.C.]

BOSTON -- Negotiations continued Friday between the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs for Theo Epstein's services, with the Red Sox taking a hard-line stance that their outgoing general manager will not be able to take any of his top aides with him, according to a team source.

 

The source told ESPNBoston.com Friday that he would not be surprised if negotiations continue until Tuesday.

 

http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story/_/id/7101409/source-boston-red-sox-theo-epstein-taking-aides-chicago-cubs

 

So the main holding point is his staff? Well, I can't blame Boston for that. I wouldn't let go some of those people either. They are not gonna let the Cubs gut their best people.

Edited October 14, 2011 by C.C.

[C.C.]

It's just idle speculation from people who enjoy the drama.

 

The reality is a lot less extreme. Either the Red Sox are posturing or the real negotiations are about poaching staff.

It seems a bit odd that these staff members are in essence being traded. I wonder if anyone stopped to ask them if they would join the Cubs if Theo asked. They could say, "no thanks, I like it here".

 

I'm sure it's only the people that want to come with Theo. I'm sure there're some staff members who would prefer to stay put. It's much easier for Theo to leave his home town when he's making 3-4 mil a year. But of course that's all behind the scenes stuff we'll probably never know.

And what I'm wondering is, did they circulate a survey around the office?

 

"Would you like to go with Theo to Chicago?"

 

__ Yes

 

__ No

 

___ Maybe

 

 

LOL!

[Hairyducked Idiot]

So the main holding point is his staff? Well, I can't blame Boston for that. I wouldn't let go some of those people either.

 

Unlike with Theo, these are presumably going to be lateral moves, so that makes sense.

[Banedon]

BOSTON -- Negotiations continued Friday between the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs for Theo Epstein's services, with the Red Sox taking a hard-line stance that their outgoing general manager will not be able to take any of his top aides with him, according to a team source.

 

The source told ESPNBoston.com Friday that he would not be surprised if negotiations continue until Tuesday.

 

http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story/_/id/7101409/source-boston-red-sox-theo-epstein-taking-aides-chicago-cubs

 

Also from that article:

 

The Red Sox would seem to hold considerable leverage in the negotiations, given that Epstein remains under contract for another year and the Cubs have raised high expectations among their fan base that the 37-year-old is headed to Chicago.

[C.C.]

So the main holding point is his staff? Well, I can't blame Boston for that. I wouldn't let go some of those people either.

 

Unlike with Theo, these are presumably going to be lateral moves, so that makes sense.

 

Yeah, so what's the hold up? Boston's not going to let them go case closed. Let's call it a day and get your ass to Chicago for the Press Conference, no?

[davearm2]

Exactly.

 

The Sox are going to walk away keeping their money AND having Cub prospects (if they "win" the negotiations), or they're going to walk away owing the money and no prospects (if they walk away).

 

It's not an either-or. It's a both-or-neither.

 

 

Kyle is saying that if they play hardball in hopes of landing some prospect of ours to the point that we walk away, they are screwing themselves out of $6.5M because they held out for said prospect.

I get it. And it makes no logical sense for the reason I explained.

 

"If we don't get Prospect X, we're keeping our $6.5M!" That makes sense. (But it's not the situation.)

 

"If we don't get Prospect X, we're burning our $6.5M!" That makes no sense.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

 

Also from that article:

 

The Red Sox would seem to hold considerable leverage in the negotiations, given that Epstein remains under contract for another year and the Cubs have raised high expectations among their fan base that the 37-year-old is headed to Chicago.

 

An ESPN article using a Boston source argues the point of view Boston would like to represent as truth.

[C.C.]

BOSTON -- Negotiations continued Friday between the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs for Theo Epstein's services, with the Red Sox taking a hard-line stance that their outgoing general manager will not be able to take any of his top aides with him, according to a team source.

 

The source told ESPNBoston.com Friday that he would not be surprised if negotiations continue until Tuesday.

 

http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story/_/id/7101409/source-boston-red-sox-theo-epstein-taking-aides-chicago-cubs

 

Also from that article:

 

The Red Sox would seem to hold considerable leverage in the negotiations, given that Epstein remains under contract for another year and the Cubs have raised high expectations among their fan base that the 37-year-old is headed to Chicago.

 

Exactly! If the Rickett's loses this I can't imagine what the reaction from the fan base would be.

 

I can't imagine what the reaction from this thread would be.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Exactly! If the Rickett's loses this I can't imagine what the reaction from the fan base would be.

 

 

What gives you the impression that Ricketts cares about the reaction?

[C.C.]

Exactly! If the Rickett's loses this I can't imagine what the reaction from the fan base would be.

 

 

What gives you the impression that Ricketts cares about the reaction?

 

Because he owns the Cubs.

[PrimeTime]

Here's a poll on NESN.com from the fans

 

 

What compensation should the Red Sox get from the Cubs for Theo Epstein?

 

One major league-ready prospect 12.13%

 

One major league-ready prospect, one top-level minor league prospect 44.31%

 

Two top-level minor league prospects 22.28%

 

Three top-level minor league prospects 10.15%

 

Other (Specify in comments) 11.14%

[Little Slide Rooter]

To be honest, I'm at the point where I really think it's a done deal and the only question is how much we end up giving up. The main advantage they hold is that they have a much better guy on their end of the negotiations than we do. I'd have no problem giving them Baker, a solid prospect, be it big league ready ( J Jax, Carpenter, Flaherty) or lower level ( Lake, Watkins, Beeler) and kick in. 2-3 mil. Might sound like a lot, but remember if Hendry were still here, he would have spent that 2-3 mil on another John Grabow anyway.

[Banedon]

Here's a poll on NESN.com from the fans

 

 

What compensation should the Red Sox get from the Cubs for Theo Epstein?

 

One major league-ready prospect 12.13%

 

One major league-ready prospect, one top-level minor league prospect 44.31%

 

Two top-level minor league prospects 22.28%

 

Three top-level minor league prospects 10.15%

 

Other (Specify in comments) 11.14%

 

Well yeah...fans are morons. Every Chicagosports.com poll ever has proven that.

[Guest]

Exactly.

 

The Sox are going to walk away keeping their money AND having Cub prospects (if they "win" the negotiations), or they're going to walk away owing the money and no prospects (if they walk away).

 

It's not an either-or. It's a both-or-neither.

 

 

Kyle is saying that if they play hardball in hopes of landing some prospect of ours to the point that we walk away, they are screwing themselves out of $6.5M because they held out for said prospect.

I get it. And it makes no logical sense for the reason I explained.

 

"If we don't get Prospect X, we're keeping our $6.5M!" That makes sense. (But it's not the situation.)

 

"If we don't get Prospect X, we're burning our $6.5M!" That makes no sense.

 

If you're saying taking that course of action makes no sense... Obviously.

 

That's his point. They don't really have much leverage in holding out because the alternative is burning $6.5M.

[C.C.]

To be honest, I'm at the point where I really think it's a done deal and the only question is how much we end up giving up. The main advantage they hold is that they have a much better guy on their end of the negotiations than we do. I'd have no problem giving them Baker, a solid prospect, be it big league ready ( J Jax, Carpenter, Flaherty) or lower level ( Lake, Watkins, Beeler) and kick in. 2-3 mil. Might sound like a lot, but remember if Hendry were still here, he would have spent that 2-3 mil on another John Grabow anyway.

 

If you were Boston would you settle for that?

[Guest]

Exactly! If the Rickett's loses this I can't imagine what the reaction from the fan base would be.

 

 

What gives you the impression that Ricketts cares about the reaction?

 

 

The fact that he wants to sell tickets to a fan base whose interest was clearly waning last year?

[C.C.]

Exactly.

 

The Sox are going to walk away keeping their money AND having Cub prospects (if they "win" the negotiations), or they're going to walk away owing the money and no prospects (if they walk away).

 

It's not an either-or. It's a both-or-neither.

 

 

Kyle is saying that if they play hardball in hopes of landing some prospect of ours to the point that we walk away, they are screwing themselves out of $6.5M because they held out for said prospect.

I get it. And it makes no logical sense for the reason I explained.

 

"If we don't get Prospect X, we're keeping our $6.5M!" That makes sense. (But it's not the situation.)

 

"If we don't get Prospect X, we're burning our $6.5M!" That makes no sense.

 

If you're saying taking that course of action makes no sense... Obviously.

 

That's his point. They don't really have much leverage in holding out because the alternative is burning $6.5M.

 

 

I honestly don't think they care about the 6.5M. This isn't a strap poor org.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

If you were Boston would you settle for that?

 

Eventually.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I honestly don't think they care about the 6.5M. This isn't a strap poor org.

 

Every organization cares about money.

[Guest]

I honestly don't think they care about the 6.5M. This isn't a strap poor org.

 

 

So they just throw money away for no reason except principle?

 

The Red Sox do not intentionally blow resources.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Exactly! If the Rickett's loses this I can't imagine what the reaction from the fan base would be.

 

 

What gives you the impression that Ricketts cares about the reaction?

 

 

The fact that he wants to sell tickets to a fan base whose interest was clearly waning last year?

 

That's why he hired Sandberg and keeps talking about a major upping of the MLB payroll at the expense of long-term gains like the farm system.

 

Ricketts has a long-term plan to bring back the fans. I don't think he particularly cares how they react in the meantime.

[C.C.]

Exactly! If the Rickett's loses this I can't imagine what the reaction from the fan base would be.

 

 

What gives you the impression that Ricketts cares about the reaction?

 

 

The fact that he wants to sell tickets to a fan base whose interest was clearly waning last year?

 

Yes, this. I don't get where Kyle is going with that?

[C.C.]

I honestly don't think they care about the 6.5M. This isn't a strap poor org.

 

 

So they just throw money away for no reason except principle?

 

The Red Sox do not intentionally blow resources.

 

Crawford?

[C.C.]

Exactly! If the Rickett's loses this I can't imagine what the reaction from the fan base would be.

 

 

What gives you the impression that Ricketts cares about the reaction?

 

 

The fact that he wants to sell tickets to a fan base whose interest was clearly waning last year?

 

That's why he hired Sandberg and keeps talking about a major upping of the MLB payroll at the expense of long-term gains like the farm system.

 

Ricketts has a long-term plan to bring back the fans. I don't think he particularly cares how they react in the meantime.

 

Trust me he cares. He needs to make money for the short term and long term.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Yes, this. I don't get where Kyle is going with that?

 

Ricketts has done nothing but what he wanted to do from day one, and not given the slightest indication that he cares about how fans react in the short term.

 

He didn't fire Hendry immediately. He waited well over a year and then didn't tell anyone that he did it. He didn't hire Sandberg. He's made most of his major investments, both current and planned, in something that most fans won't even notice: scouting and development. He apparently conducted multiple interviews and almost the entire GM search before anything started leaking.

 

These are the actions of a man who will do whatever he thinks is best for the organization, fan reaction be damned.