I don't think this would hurt Ricketts a whole lot. He's the primary reason why these negotiations have made it this far. Everything is in place for Theo to come to the Cubs. If the Red Sox decide to submarine everything by demanding Castro or Garza, Ricketts will come off really well for turning them down. Plus, considering the compensation and amount of autonomy Ricketts offered Epstein, I have to imagine this would make the Cubs an incredibly attractive location for GM candidates. Ricketts is serious about building a contender and doing what it takes to win. He clearly would put his utmost faith and support behind Epstein. Imagine being a Rick Hahn or a John Copolella if this deal fell through? The Red Sox, on the other hand, are in a rough spot. If they kill this deal, their front office would be in complete and total disarray. Ben Cherrington had the GM spot in his grasp, only for it to be taken away because the owners were too stubborn? Why would he want to stay? Theo Epstein would sure as hell be disgruntled after that mess. What manager would want to replace Francona if they know the front office could change drastically in the next year? This should be fine, unless the Red Sox decide to do something incredibly stupid.