The Boston Herald is citing two baseball sources stating that Red Sox GM Theo Epstein is on the verge of becoming the new GM of the Chicago Cubs. The position with the Cubs is said to have “powers greater than he (Epstein) has in Boston” with an official announcement coming within the next 24-48 hours.
Red Sox officials are said to be hoping that Epstein remains with the team however if Epstein were to leave the Red Sox, Boston would want “something real” in return. It’s not known if this would be money, a player or a combination of the two.
“But this is going to be resolved very soon,” said a second baseball source.
Epstein is certainly one of the more high-profile GM’s in the league which is something the Cubs are looking for following the dismissal of Jim Hendry.
Epstein joined the Red Sox back in 2002 and that November at the age of 28 became the youngest general manager in the history of Major League Baseball. He constructed World Series Championship teams in 2004 and 2007 and helped the Red Sox make the playoffs six of nine seasons. This past season however the Red Sox had one of the most epic collapses in MLB history going 7-10 in September and failing to make the playoffs after signing high-priced free agents including Carl Crawford and John Lackey.
Ref: Boston Herald,