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| Was it time for Theo to go in Boston? |
It has been reported by multiple sources, Epstein has agreed to a five-year $15 million contract to become the new GM of the Chicago Cubs, a position vacated by Jim Hendry, who was fired back on Aug. 19 and hired by the Cubs in 2002, the same year Epstein was hired in Boston.
The decision comes nearly three weeks after Boston finished their epic September collapse and "mutual" parting with manager Terry Francona.
It's not the first time he decided to resign from his post. In October of 2005, Epstein left his position as GM after a contract dispute with team CEO Larry Lucchino. San Diego Padres GM Jed Hoyer and Epstein's current assistant GM Ben Cherington shared the duties until he returned two months later.
The deal has not been announced officially with some minor details needing to be hammered out, including what the Red Sox will receive in compensation for this GM's services.
Boston brass is also insisting Chicago pick up Epstein's $3.5 million bonus he is due, bringing his contract total to nearly $20 million. The deal would already have him the highest-paid GM in baseball history.
If this is in fact the end of Epstein's nine year run as Red Sox GM, what a marathon it was.
Prior to the 2003 Major League Baseball season, Red Sox owner John Henry offered Oakland Athletics' GM Billy Beane a job, as it has been portrayed in the recently released feature film "Moneyball". Beane initially accepted the offer, but later decided to finish what he started in Oakland, where he still resides today.
Beane's change of heart opened the door for a 28-year-old Yale graduate to accept his dream job.
Epstein had previously worked for the San Diego Padres and was an intern for the Baltimore Orioles, but his first job with Boston made him the youngest GM in baseball history.
In his first year as Red Sox GM, Epstein put together a team that went all the way to Game 7 of the ALCS before the ghosts of Yankee Stadium were awoken in the eight inning and their arch rivals, the New York Yankees, were able to erase a three-run deficit and force extra innings, where knuckleballer Tim Wakefield surrendered the infamous Aaron Boone walk-off home run in the 11th inning.
Epstein would have his revenge the following season.
Sparked by a midseason walk-off home run by Bill Mueller off Yankee closer Mariano Rivera, the '04 Red Sox rolled into the postseason with abundance of confidence, setting up a highly anticipated ALCS rematch with New York.
But the Yankees got out of the gate quickly and put a stranglehold on the series, wining the first three games convincingly. It looked like New York would get Epstein and Co. once again after '03's dramatic Game 7 loss and missing out on trading for superstar slugger Alex Rodriguez in the offseason, who would eventually be dealt to their hated rivals.
Instead for the first time since 1918, the Red Sox got the last laugh.
Epstein's club became the first team in baseball history to overcome a 3-0 deficit in a postseason series and went on to sweep the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series, sending liberation throughout New England and exercising an 86-year curse.
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| In only his second year as GM, Epstein enjoyed his first World Series title. |
Along with being the architect of two World Series teams, Epstein accumulated 839 wins during his tenure in Boston, second only to who else, the Yankees.
The soon to be 38-year-old GM's goal was to come to Boston with the focus of strengthening the scouting and player-development in the organization and did he ever. In the past decade the Red Sox farm system has produced players like Jonathan Papelbon, Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jon Lester, and Clay Buchholz.
That's exactly what Cubs owner Tom Ricketts and team president Crane Kenney were looking for and now apparently have.
Epstein also made key acquisitions that were a pivotal part of both the Red Sox World Series teams, including the signings of David Ortiz, Mike Timlin, Bill Mueller, and trading for All-Stars Curt Schilling.
He also traded for Jason Bay and most recently Adrian Gonzalez, both whom worked out great.
But along with striking gold there came a batch of fool's good. This included a three-ring circus and revolving door at shortstop. Since trading Nomar Garciaparra in '04, Epstein has seen names like Orlando Cabrera, Edgar Renteria, Alex Gonzalez, who played for the Sox in two different stints, Alex Cora, Julio Lugo, Jed Lowrie, Marco Scutaro, and highly touted prospect Jose Iglesias command one of, if not the most crucial position on the diamond.
The Sox believe Iglesias is the shortstop of the future, but they may have had that covered years ago if it wasn't for a certain trade.
In November of 2005, the Red Sox made a deal that sent Hanley
The trade went on to benefit both teams as Beckett and Lowell, who would be named the '07 World Series MVP, were key contributors in getting Boston back to the Fall Classic, while Ramirez has developed into one of the games brightest young stars, winning the National League batting title in 2009. Sanchez has seen become a quality major league pitcher and threw a no-hitter in only his 14th big-league start.
Moves that didn't quite work out in Epstein's tenure consist of signing Lugo, J.D. Drew, John Lackey, Carl Crawford, and trading for Eric Gagne.
Although the signing of Crawford could prove to be a good one with six years still remaining on the seven-year $142 million contract he signed this past winter, maybe needing a season to get acclimated to the pressure cooker that Boston is after playing all those years in Tampa Bay.
Epstein leaves behind an almost unfillable legacy with a daunting task in front of him.
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| The Curse of the Billy Goat has haunted the Cubs for 103 years and counting. |
Chicago made the playoffs three times in the last decade, '03, '07, and '08, all coming under the watch of Hendry.
If Epstein can bring a World Series title to the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field, it would not be inappropriate to call him the greatest GM in the history of baseball, breaking two of the most terrorizing spells in professional sports.
Cherington looks to be the heir apparent in Boston, but it's not strange to hear the name of Yankee GM Brian Cashman, whose current contract expires at the end of the month, surface.
Coincidence or not, it's interesting to think both teams Epstein has agreed to GM for have suffered from two of the longest championship droughts in history while their arch rivals, the Cardinals and Yankees, have won double-digit World Series during that time.
He must be a man looking for a challenge.
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