Is it me or is this whole compensation from the Cubs thing becoming comical and borderline embarrassing? Here we sit in the middle of November and it’s been almost a month since Theo Epstein was introduced as the Chicago Cubs new president of baseball operations. And still Boston hasn’t received anything for him.
Clearly there is a snag in the negotiations. Both the Cubs and Red Sox have a bare cupboard when it comes to prospects and Theo doesn’t want to give up anymore while the Sox want exactly that.
Recently, Theo told the media that he feels he’s not worth that much. This is a laughable statement made by the boy wonder himself. He’s clearly using that as an excuse so he doesn’t have to part ways with a top prospect.
Theo knows that he’s a lot more valuable than he wants to admit and in the back of his mind he knows it’s true. After all he was the architect that helped bring two World Series to Boston, a city that had become accustomed to heartbreak and second place. So when a brain like Epstein comes into town and does a complete 180 with this club and leads them and their loyal fan base into the promised land, not once but twice, your value is through the roof. Like it or not Theo, you’re stock is quite high, real high actually.
Why did the Cubs want Epstein so badly as the man to try and end their long and depressing winless curse? Because they know what he can do with a team that so badly needs a makeover. The Cubs didn’t pass on Epstein, rather they pursued him.
While Epstein appears to be stalling with his compensation, the Red Sox are getting antsy and want to put this to bed. Rightfully so mind you. It’s been around six weeks since Epstein decided to leave Boston and to have it drag on this long is now starting to become embarrassing. It’s embarrassing for the Cubs, the Red Sox and for baseball itself. You have two organizations that cannot come to an agreement; one won’t give enough and the other won’t settle for less.
Bud Selig is partly to blame for this debacle as well. In October, the commissioner set a deadline for Nov. 1 or else he was going to settle it himself. Then he grants a week extension for both parties, failing to live up to his threat. The LA Dodgers nightmare situation arises with a potential new buyer for the team and Selig’s focus has completely shifted south. It’s as though he doesn’t even know about the compensation still unresolved and that he doesn’t really care. You can’t really blame him though. This are two grown men (Epstein and Cherington) who are leading the charge in the discussions and it’ would be real embarrassing if Selig has to step in and settle this.
But the party I feel that is most responsible for this humiliating are the Red Sox owners. John Henry, Larry Lucchino and Tom Werner all have their precious little hands involved in the daily activities of the club and they allowed Epstein to go to Chicago. No problem there, I understand the business side of it. But why did this three headed monster not stand tough and demand compensation before Theo left. Don’t let him leave his office in Boston and go to Chicago to assume their daily duties, such as hiring a new manager and pursuing free agents. Force the Cubs to give up a prospect or two or they don’t get their man in time to tackle the issues in Chicago.
Is that harsh? Perhaps a tad, but this is a business and not a playground. This is backed up by the recent events that are about to unfold with the manager search. Epstein is on the verge of inking Dale Sveum as their manager of choice, scooping him from right out under the Red Sox nose.
This has been dragging on long enough, it’s time for Theo to quit skirting the issue and send some prospects over to Boston. If Ozzie Guillen is worth two prospects then surely Theo is worth at least a Trey McNutt.
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