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:beg: http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2011/10/12/alg_theo-epstein-cubs-logo.jpg

http://www.csnne.com/10/11/11/Epstein-close-to-leaving-Sox-heading-to-/landing_redsox.html?blockID=575848&feedID=3352 According to a high-ranking baseball official, Theo Epstein is on the verge of leaving the Red Sox after 10 seasons to head up the Chicago Cubs front office. "It's close, but it's not done yet," said the official who has knowledge of the situation. Just last Friday, principal owner John Henry and team president and CEO Larry Lucchino, in an interview with WEEI, refused to confirm that the Cubs had requested permission to speak to Epstein about the position. A report out of Chicago had Epstein spotted in the vicinity of Wrigley Field last weekend, though that is still unconfirmed. The Boston Herald was the first to report that Epstein was "on the cusp" of joining the Cubs and reported that compensation from the Cubs was the lone remaining sticking point. Epstein has a year remaining on his current contract and the Sox would be within their right to obtain compensation for allowing Epstein to leave. But the same baseball official said compensation was not the sticking point, while refusing to elaborate. "It's a little more complicated than that," said the official of what was holding up finalization. It's widely expected that Ben Cherington, whose history with the organization pre-dates Epstein's, will be named as the team's next general manager.

All over Espnchicago.com and chicagosports.com http://espn.go.com/chicago/ Front page..omgomgomgomg

lol at the comments from the Red sox fans on the report. who gives a bleep, they suck with or without him Posted 39 mins ago Reply Link Abusive NODEABLA Good riddance to this guy...he knifed Francona in the back!! Posted 39 mins ago Reply Link Abusive SportsVet Hey Theo, you won't need the gorilla suit this time. Posted 36 mins ago Reply Link Abusive sailor21 ? 0 Good Comment 0 Poor Comment All 3 Red Sox owners are toxic. I hope that the Red Sox fade away! I am tired of this waste of resources that should be focused elsewhere! Posted 30 mins ago Reply Link Abusive ediehaskel ? 0 Good Comment 0 Poor Comment REDSOX WHO? Posted 12 mins ago Reply Link Abusive closeencounter replying to sailor21 ? 0 Good Comment 0 Poor Comment Its Henry's money?No? Posted 12 mins ago Reply Link Abusive ediehaskel ? 0 Good Comment 0 Poor Comment MLB is F I X E D Posted 12 mins ago Reply Link Abusive Jeffwbc ? 0 Good Comment 0 Poor Comment I can gladly free up my schedule and give Theo a ride to the airport if helps consumate this thing! Posted 11 mins ago Reply Link Abusive HowEcarr ? 0 Good Comment 0 Poor Comment Theo, try winning a World Series with half of the payroll that you had with the Sox. Hit the road you weasel. Posted 10 mins ago Reply Link Abusive

Its on Roto as well..Ohhhh boy Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein is "on the cusp" of leaving Boston to take a job with the Cubs, reports the Boston Herald. Per writer Steve Buckley, two sources have confirmed that Chicago's offer "is believed to include powers greater than he has in Boston, with an announcement expected to be made 'within the next 24 to 48 hours." Compensation will have to be worked out between the organizations first, with the Red Sox expected to ask for legitimate value, be it money, players, or both. Epstein, 38, has been Boston's GM for nine years. His teams won two World Series titles and made the playoffs in six of nine seasons. A 7-20 September collapse cost Terry Francona his managerial job and Boston may soon be seeking a replacement at general manager as well.

Ohhh Theo, these blue balls your giving me is killing me. Please be true

I don't know what I would do, if we get Theo, he somewway unloads Soriano and Zambrano, then gets a big bat and top of the line pitcher. It would be amazing.

Can we get Theo already so he can start working on this if Fielder or Pujols don't work out? ESPN's Buster Olney reports the Reds are prepared to listen to offers on first baseman Joey Votto.

Arghhh this is so frustrating...It's like, just give us a yes or no already, so if it's no, we can move on to the next candidates.

I'm surprised at the least that we have had no word if even the Red Sox have granted him permission to interview. Nothing at all has been leaked out.

From what I'm reading it seems they didn't seem confident on the radio whatsoever, you would think if they knew he was staying and wanted to remain GM there, they would be all " Theo is our guy", " He's working already on making the team better" etc and talk him up. They stood away from all that and the way they were speaking and things they said show that he's slipping away from them and trying to making it easy on their fan base for his let go.

"Come on, give me that booze you pumpkin-pie-hair-cutted freak." I can see the resemblance...http://www.columbusicesharks.net/images/jeffdaniels2.jpg "No, its a Cardigan, but thanks for noticing!"

Man, why'd you have to go and make this post? Apparently being Jewish also is a factor on something being announced Bruce Levine (2:13 PM) I'd say Theo as GM is much more likely and something we should know in the next 2-3 days. The Jewish high holiday starting tomorrow night convilutes things a bit. It would not be kosher to announce your new Jewish GM on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. Expect something either today or up to sundown Friday. After that it would be Sunday. Just curious, but what was the question he was answering? In other words, curious as to "much more likely" than what.. He was replying to a fan question of what's more likely, Epstein as GM or Ryno as manager.

Man, why'd you have to go and make this post? Apparently being Jewish also is a factor on something being announced Bruce Levine (2:13 PM) I'd say Theo as GM is much more likely and something we should know in the next 2-3 days. The Jewish high holiday starting tomorrow night convilutes things a bit. It would not be kosher to announce your new Jewish GM on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. Expect something either today or up to sundown Friday. After that it would be Sunday.

Does it mean anything that Theo isn't going to join them tomorrow? Typically wouldn't the GM join them and chime in on what direction they're going to take?

Heres what he said regarding Friedman just now Bruce Levine (2:23 PM) Friedman has ownership in the Rays. I'm told that the only job he would leave for is the Houston job. Why Houston? He's from there and his father is trying to put a group together to purchase the team. Otherwise the consensus is that Friedman is staying in Tampa. There have been other sources that have said that the Cubs job is the only one that would interest Friedman outside of Tampa. Personally though I think he is a longer shot than Theo is simply because of how close he is to the ownership group in Tampa. Tampa had a press conference today, nothing much was really said # Friedman says he hopes to add one or two relievers this offseason, as opposed to revamping it completely as he did last winter. # The Rays could trade a starting pitcher for offense, but that's not necessarily the plan, according to Friedman. # Friedman says the Rays "have the players in place to have a very successful 2012 season." # Asked about his own future, Friedman said he's focused on building the best team possible for 2012.

Heres what he said regarding Friedman just now Bruce Levine (2:23 PM) Friedman has ownership in the Rays. I'm told that the only job he would leave for is the Houston job. Why Houston? He's from there and his father is trying to put a group together to purchase the team. Otherwise the consensus is that Friedman is staying in Tampa.

Francona said that he and general manager Theo Epstein “butted heads sometimes,” but he suggested that was the natural byproduct of a mutually respectful job dynamic in which both parties were comfortable expressing their opinions. He declined to speculate on whether he would work for Epstein again (potentially in another organization). “He’s got his things to take care of this week I know,” Francona said, referring to the Cubs’ expressed desire to speak to Epstein. “That’s his business. He knows the respect I have for him.” Hopefully that's a good sign he's very interested.

I get that feeling in my pants when thinking Theo could be our next GM.

Ughh when are we supposed to know if Boston approved talks with the Cubs?

Namely, what they plan to do in the event another club comes calling for general manager Theo Epstein, especially since, according to one major league 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.'' http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story/_/id/7052661/theo-epstein-face-complicated-decision-boston-red-sox

ROTO Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that "every executive I've talked to in the last 36 hours" thinks Theo Epstein will be hired as the Cubs' new general manager. Since the Red Sox have a contract option on Epstein for next year, the Red Sox would first need to grant him permission just to interview with the Cubs, which Sherman says they'll do. It appears that Epstein and Rays GM Andrew Friedman are the Cubs' top two targets, and either would have to be considered a home run hire for a franchise starved for winning. Related: Red Sox Source: Joel Sherman on Twitter

08:14 AM ET 08.25 | Theo Epstein may be offered the chance to end yet another epic championship drought. Red Sox owner John Henry checked in via e-mail on the rumors and speculation that [Epstein] could become a target of the Chicago Cubs, who just fired longtime GM Jim Hendry, particularly if they offer Epstein a promotion overseeing the entire baseball operations. "This kind of speculation happens from time to time to successful GMs and managers," Henry wrote. "The Cubs have one of the best presidents in baseball. I think this shows how highly regarded Theo is by the media and baseball in general." ESPN reported yesterday that the Cubs could go after Epstein in a bid to end a World Series drought that dates back to 1908. Boston Herald http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/red_sox/view.bg?articleid=1361232

Think they might announce signing Coletti and Pena's 5 year extension w/ no trade clause at the same time?

Popped up on Roto According to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts has been gathering information about Rays VP Andrew Friedman and Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti for their vacant general manager position. While many believe Friedman would be reluctant to leave the Rays, one source tells Wittenmyer that part of the reason the Cubs are interested in Colletti is the likelihood that he would try to bring Ryne Sandberg back to the organization as manager. Ricketts has also discussed the possibility of hiring Yankees GM Brian Cashman and manager Joe Girardi in a package deal. Needless to say, it seems like an unlikely scenario. While Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle has heard some rumblings that Billy Beane could be willing to leave Oakland, White Sox assistant GM Rick Hahn and Padres VP Josh Byrnes would appear to be the early favorites for the job.