Anno Catuli
World Series Dreaming
- Joined:
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The dream of many Chicago Cub fans has been granted, we have a General Manager who actually has some experience with the job. Theo Epstein will become the new Cubs baseball boss, leading them into the future and hopefully bringing them a championship in the near future as well. However, this is not the only wish that may be granted, rumors are flying that he would be very interested in hiring Ryne Sandberg as the on field Manager for the 2012 season. One report, from Phil Rodgers, of the Chicago Tribune, insisted that Epstein tried to hire Sandberg last year for the minor league team in Pawtucket last year, and he could be a favorite to get hired as the manager of the Cubs for 2012. Even though what Rodgers may be true, Bruce Levine of ESPN claims that Sandberg’s name was not brought up in Epstein’s interview as far as potential managerial candidates. I guess we will just have to wait a little while longer to see who will be the on field boss going forward. For the moment though, yes, Mike Quade is still your Cubs manager.
At the moment, only a deal has been reached between Epstein and the Cubs. The agreement will pay the new General Manager around $15 Million over five years, the actual total is closer to $20 Million in that time frame when you include the bonus that the Boston Red Sox had worked into their end of the contract. What has not been agreed upon yet, though, is the compensation the Cubs will need to send to the Red Sox who still own the rights to Epstein.
Current Cubs Assistant General Manager Randy Bush and current Red Sox Assistant General Manager Ben Cherington are negotiating exactly what the compensation will be in the Epstein deal. This makes sense on the Red Sox end, as he is expected to take over duties as the General Manager, but Bush’s future is yet to be known by anyone, himself included,
Do not worry, that will not stop the deal from going through. Once proceedings reach this level, there is no turning back. The deal will get done, likely by the end of the week at the latest, and he will be the man to build the Cubs into a championship contender. You also do not need to worry, the Cubs will not be giving up any major league talent, so Starlin Castro will not be going anywhere. That also means the dreams of many will be shattered, because that also means that Alfonso Soriano and Marlon Byrd will also remain on the team next year. Carlos Zambrano, on the other hand, will not be included in this deal; however, there may be another deal coming that will send him to the newly coined Miami Marlins to play for Ozzie Guillen. We will likely also not see the Cubs send any of the bigger name minor leaguers like Brett Jackson to Boston.
In the end, and according to some more reports by ESPN, the compensation for the Cubs hiring Epstein away may just be a lump sum. What amount that is, we can only guess at until further word is given.
There is just one thing that I ask from all you Cub fans out there. Please, please, please be patient. Epstein is not a miracle worker, despite what you may or may not have heard. This will be a process that will take some time to complete. Epstein will not be able to clean up the mess that is known as the Cubs in a single off season, not while they are still in contract hell. We will likely need to sift thought at least two or three more years until he is able to cut out the cancerous contracts which are killing the Cubs chances of becoming an actual contender and spending money on that one extra piece that the Cubs will need to put them over the top. Do not do to him what many tried to do to the owner of the team, Tom Ricketts, when he did not put immediate change in the works and turn things around in one season. That is an impossible task. Jim Hendry came close, when he brought a Cubs team that finished last in the National League Central to back to back division championships, but look where that left us.
The Epstein hiring is the first move of many to come this off season, and they will likely take some time to complete. The key piece is in place though, so that will not hinder the Cubs from making trades or pursuing potential free agents. Epstein needs to fill out the front office staff and hire a manager who he feels can be the leader to mold the players into a championship team.
Other things that may come into play, is the Wrigley renovation. Epstein was said to be heavily involved in the similar discussions in Boston. He could be the ultimate prize if he could help retool the farm system and help with rebuilding Wrigley, as Ricketts has been wanting to do since he bought the team.
Patience my friends, the sun is rising over the horizon. The dawning of a new era is upon us!
At the moment, only a deal has been reached between Epstein and the Cubs. The agreement will pay the new General Manager around $15 Million over five years, the actual total is closer to $20 Million in that time frame when you include the bonus that the Boston Red Sox had worked into their end of the contract. What has not been agreed upon yet, though, is the compensation the Cubs will need to send to the Red Sox who still own the rights to Epstein.
Current Cubs Assistant General Manager Randy Bush and current Red Sox Assistant General Manager Ben Cherington are negotiating exactly what the compensation will be in the Epstein deal. This makes sense on the Red Sox end, as he is expected to take over duties as the General Manager, but Bush’s future is yet to be known by anyone, himself included,
Do not worry, that will not stop the deal from going through. Once proceedings reach this level, there is no turning back. The deal will get done, likely by the end of the week at the latest, and he will be the man to build the Cubs into a championship contender. You also do not need to worry, the Cubs will not be giving up any major league talent, so Starlin Castro will not be going anywhere. That also means the dreams of many will be shattered, because that also means that Alfonso Soriano and Marlon Byrd will also remain on the team next year. Carlos Zambrano, on the other hand, will not be included in this deal; however, there may be another deal coming that will send him to the newly coined Miami Marlins to play for Ozzie Guillen. We will likely also not see the Cubs send any of the bigger name minor leaguers like Brett Jackson to Boston.
In the end, and according to some more reports by ESPN, the compensation for the Cubs hiring Epstein away may just be a lump sum. What amount that is, we can only guess at until further word is given.
There is just one thing that I ask from all you Cub fans out there. Please, please, please be patient. Epstein is not a miracle worker, despite what you may or may not have heard. This will be a process that will take some time to complete. Epstein will not be able to clean up the mess that is known as the Cubs in a single off season, not while they are still in contract hell. We will likely need to sift thought at least two or three more years until he is able to cut out the cancerous contracts which are killing the Cubs chances of becoming an actual contender and spending money on that one extra piece that the Cubs will need to put them over the top. Do not do to him what many tried to do to the owner of the team, Tom Ricketts, when he did not put immediate change in the works and turn things around in one season. That is an impossible task. Jim Hendry came close, when he brought a Cubs team that finished last in the National League Central to back to back division championships, but look where that left us.
The Epstein hiring is the first move of many to come this off season, and they will likely take some time to complete. The key piece is in place though, so that will not hinder the Cubs from making trades or pursuing potential free agents. Epstein needs to fill out the front office staff and hire a manager who he feels can be the leader to mold the players into a championship team.
Other things that may come into play, is the Wrigley renovation. Epstein was said to be heavily involved in the similar discussions in Boston. He could be the ultimate prize if he could help retool the farm system and help with rebuilding Wrigley, as Ricketts has been wanting to do since he bought the team.
Patience my friends, the sun is rising over the horizon. The dawning of a new era is upon us!
