The Chicago Cubs made what I believe was a significant step in turning around their organization when they cut ties with former general manager Jim Hendry.
The next significant step is finding that general manager that can finally get the organization back to a respectable level and dare I say it maybe win a World Series for the first time since 1908?
Despite how the Cubs have been viewed for the past couple of seasons, the teams GM position is still high-profile and expected to attract some of the heavy weight GM’s from around the league.
But who?
ESPN baseball insider Buster Olney highlights some of the bigger names from around the league who could potentially take over the Cubs. Some of these names include Brian Cashman of the New York Yankees, Billy Beane of the Oakland Athletics and Andrew Friedman of the Tampa Bay Rays (although I still believe he is taking over the Houston Astros after this season).
One name though that Olney mentioned sparked a lot of interest and that was Red Sox GM Theo Epstein.
Here is what Olney says about that possibility…
In years past, some friends say, Epstein has talked about the Cubs’ organization as a place with extraordinary growth potential and as a unique challenge. When Epstein took over the Red Sox, Boston had more than eight decades of frustration before it finally won the World Series in 2004.
Keep in mind that Epstein has carved out a strong position under Red Sox owners Henry and Tom Werner, and friends say he has a deep loyalty to the Boston organization — and keep in mind that Boston is his hometown and that Epstein is in the middle of his current contract.
But that would not preclude the Cubs from calling the Red Sox and asking whether they could talk to Epstein, presumably with the potential offer of some kind of promotion, such as a club presidency with oversight of baseball operations. There’s no telling how Henry would react or how Ricketts would handle that situation or what Epstein would want until those conversations take place.
In the end I cannot see Epstein leaving the Red Sox for the Cubs, however I do think this is an indication that the Cubs will not settle for an under the radar GM to take over the team.
Source: ESPN
