mookie

If they are getting McNutt, Theo better be bringing some guys with him.

Per MLBTR Red Sox Focused On McNutt In Epstein Talks By Tim Dierkes [October 17 at 11:10am CST] The Red Sox are "believed to be focused" on Cubs pitching prospect Trey McNutt in the Theo Epstein compensation talks, writes Patrick Mooney of CSNChicago.com. Mooney says Cubs center field prospect Brett Jackson is "untouchable and not part of the discussions," while prospects such as Josh Vitters and Matt Szczur are considered unlikely. McNutt, 22, posted a 4.55 ERA, 6.2 K/9, 3.7 BB/9, and 0.5 HR/9 with 120 hits allowed in 95 innings for the Cubs' Double-A affiliate this year. Baseball America ranked him second among Cubs prospects heading into the season and he was a consensus top 70 prospect in the game. McNutt dealt with blister problems and bruised ribs in a disappointing 2011 season, and is currently pitching in the Arizona Fall League. The World Series, scheduled to begin Wednesday, seems to serve as a deadline for the talks between the Cubs and Red Sox. That is the latest point the Red Sox expect a resolution, writes Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald. One major holdup is determining which front office members Epstein can take with him to Chicago. Silverman's informed speculation suggests Red Sox vice president of baseball operations Brian O'Halloran, special assistant to the GM Dave Finley, and head athletic director and assistant director of medical services Mike Reinold "could be part of Epstein's request." Senior vice president of baseball operations Josh Byrnes and assistant GM Jason McLeod could be candidates to come from the Padres.

100% chance this gets done today. So, Mcnutt is only destined for back of the rotation? I thought his ceiling was higher?

Pujols isn't going anywhere. Bummer.

Honestly, this is the worst part.

The Machine is hurt.

Damn. The Brewers are melting down.

This speculation is agonizing. First Jackson is mentioned and now McNutt. [expletive] Boston.

me nine!

OH MY!! I am glad I didn't turn this game off. BOOMTASTIC

Ooooooooooh, the garbage pail kid strikes a life blow!!

Pujols was safe. Freese just slammed a dagger. Don't worry guys, the Rangers will bend them over.

I bet you couldn't see them beating the Phillies either. Naw, I saw that one plain as day. Suffice it to say, I undervalued the Rangers this season. I think the Brewers can give them a run for their money, but they will probably feed heavily upon the red birds.

I can't see the Cardinals beating the Rangers. So, I guess I wouldn't be terribly upset to see the series end tonight. That way, come tomorrow afternoon/evening, all of this should be resolved. It will be nice to move on.

I am simply not ready to write him off yet. I know I am in the minority on this one.

Brett Jackson might be an overreach because he's major league ready and seems to be fairly low risk. He does seem ideally suited to Fenway's spacious RF. As you said the precedent is going to be established, but I believe it will, and should be higher than compensation packages we've seen for field managers. I just don't understand the perspective of Cubs fans that Theo shouldn't be worth some serious on field talent. Friedman is no sure thing to leave Tampa Bay (he works on a handshake agreement with the Rays), Cashman is staying with the Yankees and the only other candidates seem to be unproven. Fact is, the Cubs have Theo in hand if only they can work out a deal. None of the other candidates are a sure thing, if the Cubs play ball with a fair deal Theo is a sure thing. He's reportedly already agreed to a contract. It could be argued that Epstein is the perfect choice for what the Cubs want. Someone with experience in big markets, someone who has shown the ability to work the draft and someone who has experience building a winner. For all his greatness Andrew Friedman does not have Epstein's experience with a big budget. There's a certain knack to running a "100 million dollar player development machine." As Epstein once referred to his goals for Boston's farm system. If Jackson was an untouchable then what about Vitters, Szczur, McNutt, Simpson, Dolis or Guyer? Shouldn't they be part of the conversation in regards to compensation? I can see where the Cubs would be reluctant to give up MLB ready talent but the guys in the lower minors might be easier to replace and their youth makes them unknown quantities. The feeling I've been getting (from news reports and this forum) are that the Cubs should give up nothing for a top executive and they could simply wait and snag someone else. Both cases seem incredibly unrealistic IMO. Sure thing on the players in bold. I believe Guyer is a Ray. You can throw McNutt and Simpson in same category as Brett Jackson.

Right, a top executive changing jobs in the middle of a contract is much more rare than a manager doing it. My point is that managers are much less valuable to a team than a chief baseball operations executive. All we have to go on is a couple recent examples of managerial compensation and some rumored information about Billy Beane. IMO managerial compensation should be used as an example of the extreme low end of compensation required. Some Red Sox fans suggest the compensation should simply be the Cubs assumption of John Lackey's horrible contract but I think that's incredibly unrealistic. The quotes about Ricketts investing heavily in the draft (and to a lesser extent, international scouting) should be extremely exciting to Cubs fans, because while free agency hasn't been especially kind to Theo and the Red Sox, the draft has. IMO this should also lessen the anxiety about and the reluctance to part with minor league talent. Not saying you should give away the farm, just because Theo should rebuild it, but paying fair compensation and moving on would be best for both parties. Theo is the same guy who drafted David Murphy, Jon Papelbon, Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury, Clay Buchholz, Jed Lowrie, Daniel Bard, Justin Masterson, Casey Kelly*, and Anthony Rizzo*. All this in addition to other, more recent promising prospects. He is a master at using financial muscle to secure players with signability concerns and guys with money over slot. As an example, Boston's top prospect is arguably 3B Will Middlebrooks who Theo drafted in the 5th round and paid 1st round cash to. He definitely does have the chops to rebuild the system and in a few years I would expect Cubs fans to have a good laugh over giving up Brett Jackson for Theo and the fervent discussion that ensued. A quick resolution means Theo can get to work on the rebuild in Chicago and the Sox can get on with hiring a manager. One thing's for sure, I'd love to be a fly on the wall in those meetings. *The key pieces in the Adrian Gonzalez trade This we can agree on. As far as precedent is concerned, it is about to get established. I will put my personal team feelings aside when saying the precedent is most likely going to fall shorter than what Red Sox fans want and a tad higher than Cub fans are willing to part with. Brett Jackson won't be in a Red Sox uniform.

This belief is completely blowing my mind. Of course it's unfair. You want to pluck two of our best assets? You think that is fair? I think Boston fans have simply developed a "gimmie" type attitude ever since your winning ways. Hey, I tell you what. You want to throw in a baseball player like Youkilis or Lowrie, then maybe you can have some of those top prospects. That sounds fair to me.

I really should invest in a punching bag.

THEO FN EPSTEIN I BELIEVE

This is a whole lot of goony goo goo.

I can't believe the Cardinals are one [expletive] game away from the World Series. How can something be so unbelievable yet totally not surprising all at the same time? [expletive]

Just give me a happy ending. Oooh Daddy. Okay, creepy... sad panda

Just give me a happy ending. Oooh Daddy.