Laura

Boston Globe:

The Boston Herald has some thoughts on who might be on Theo's list to bring over to Chicago. Also some talk about the internal dynamics of deciding whether and how to limit the brain drain, since people coming over would most likely be eligible for promotions or, at the least, a healthy raise.

Patrick Mooney / CSN http://www.csnchicago.com/baseball-chicago-cubs/news/What-it-will-take-to-close-the-Epstein-d?blockID=578406&feedID=4901

http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/this-just-in/21147901/some-sox-coaches-allowed-explore-jobs According to multiple sources, some of the Red Sox coaches have been granted permission to explore other opportunities while awaiting their fate. The remaining Sox coaches -- bench coach DeMarlo Hale, hitting coach Dave Magadan, pitching coach Curt Young, third base coach Tim Bogar and bullpen coach Gary Tuck -- all have at least one year remaining on their current contracts. Some of the coaches have been told that while the organization was pleased with their performance, the decision to retain their services will be contingent on the approval of the Red Sox' new manager. WEEI.com previously reported that the team's managerial search most likely won't be fully put into motion until the negotiations involving general manager Theo Epstein going to the Cubs are completed.

Regarding the PR aspects on the Cubs side if the deal falls through, Ricketts has a pretty easy cure for that in Ryne Sandberg. Might not be popular here, but casual fans would be more excited over Ryno in uniform than Theo in the front office. I don't think Ricketts would go for an interim type GM, though, while Theo's current contract runs out -- if the deals fails, it's Plan B for the GM and the systemic transformation continues with someone else at the helm. That said, I still believe a deal will be struck.

Buster_ESPN Buster Olney Rival GM: "Cubs should just keep saying no (on compensation for Theo). What are the Red Sox going to do -- bring Theo back? No way." I like Rival GM.

Yup, but it's 'business as usual' for the Red Sox with Theo hanging out and doing his job. TGIF, I guess!

ha, I thought they'd wait until the deal was at least done before they started seriously trashing Theo.

More from Heyman: SI_JonHeyman Jon Heyman Hearing red sox asking price is "significant" for theo. And why not? He did win 2 WS titles. Also, #cubs are more motivated

Sounds like Jon's sources are other newspaper articles. Vinestal needs to twitter-heckle him some more.

Not following that. He went off on how there's "usually" tampering in cases like this and the timing of Hendry's dismissal vis-a-vis Theo's availability was suspicious. Mully and Hanley were completely oblivious and didn't follow up with him on it. To be clear, this was some dude with the Boston Globe, not a team rep or anything like that. And yeah, sounds like a load of BS.

There was a Boston Globe guy on the Score this morning. I didn't catch the whole conversation. He was saying that he expected the deal to go through, but that it wouldn't be easy negotiations. He also threw out that Boston could make a case for tampering, given the exquisite timing of Ricketts secretly firing Hendry. FWIW.

Start reading about page 3.

also hopped up on painkillers And banging Francona's wife. I wonder when the trashing of Theo will begin in earnest. I figure they'll wait until the deal is finalized. Maybe they'll try to make the splash the day of the presser? I don't think smear campaigns are subject to the announcement rules of MLB.

With the manager & GM departing (& at least one coach) + painkillergate + chicken&beer&videogame scandals, I'd guess the medical / conditioning etc staff people aren't feeling too comfy about their current employment situation.

Here's a better look at the compensation issues than most I've read -- discusses why this may drag out a little longer. CBSSports.com I've read a few accounts that MLB got involved to try to tap down the Cubs' offer to Theo to keep front office compensation in line. It would seem inconsistent to me if that didn't carry over to team compensation.

tomkrasovic Am hearing there's a good chance Theo Epstein will hire #Padres exec Josh Byrnes to join him with #Cubs.

Sounds like Theo will be President of Baseball Ops, Kenney will be President of Business Ops, and both report directly to the Ricketts.

Nice writeup by Jeff Passan, who looks at the plus side for Theo & for the Cubs. I think he's tweeted most of these thoughts over the past several hours as well.

I'm think hiring Theo Epstein means having a gigantic payroll. :good:

SI:

Will Carroll guessed a reuniting with Byrnes as assistant. I wonder whether MLB will pour through that compensation package as well.

Peter Gammons was on WEEI a little while ago, talking mainly about the collapse and today's clubhouse revelations. I don't think there's audio yet, but quick summary: He's "sickened" by what he sees as the trashing of Tito and believes the same thing will happen to Theo. Thought "Why? Why?!" at 4 am this morning when he read today's Globe report on the collapse. "It doesn't speak really well about how insane Boston has become." "There's so much fanaticism ... maybe it's gotten out of hand." "It's going to be really tough for fans to like this Red Sox team again." Ownership would have discussed extending Theo's contract, but he wasn't interested. They clearly wanted him to stay and ownership felt he should stay through the end of his contract (honor his commitment). MLB Commissioner's office pushed HARD to keep compensation down. (focus seemed to be on $$ to Theo, not team compensation). [i'll be interested in hearing more on this] Theo was feeling claustrophobic. He went in there and right away had great success, so expectations became overwhelming. He's a very private person. Talked to many young GMs about trying to raise a family and be a GM - taking calls from Scott Boras on major holidays - upside might not be as great as downside. team compensation: probably a prospect. Mentioned Brett Jackson again, clearly who HE would like to see.

And: Old Hoss Radbourn Perhaps the Red Sox should demand "Go Cubs Go" as compensation and then shoot the song with a shotgun. 16 hours ago

this is Kaplan, but he seems to be repeating what he's been told: =D> http://www.csnchicago.com/baseball-chicago-cubs/news/Kaplan-Epstein-blown-away-by-Ricketts-lo?blockID=576086&feedID=661