Chicago Cubs GM Search: The Big Names Are Not Likely To Want the Job

I promised that I would be much more positive as a Cubs writer, but allow me to take a brief detour from that role and tell you that the so-called big names won't be coming to Wrigley Field next season.

As much as many of us would love to see an Andrew Friedman, Theo Epstein or a Brian Cashman take over the reins as Cubs GM, it simply isn't going to happen.

Here is why.

For one thing, they all have better options in front of them.

You think a guy like Epstein, who was born and raised in Boston and is considered a god-like figure there, wants to leave? No.

Sure, there are the rumors that if he gets the right level of authority, he would be tempted to leave.

Ah, but therein lies the rub—Tom Ricketts wants to maintain authority over the baseball operations and isn't willing to give Epstein the title of president.

Why else would Ricketts re-sign his minor league director if he actually intended to turn over full power to the new Cubs GM?

Epstein coming to the Cubs as a lateral move? Right, and I'm the damn Easter Bunny.  

And even if Ricketts surprises me and offers the presidency to him, why would this be a better job than what he has? And who would be the GM in that scenario?

The lure of being the first guy to take the Cubs to the promised land is there, and that guy would be a hero for life.

Yes, I know that "guy" excludes Kim Ng, but I don't think she is a viable candidate, sorry women's libbers.

But Epstein has been there, done that. The Red Sox had their own curse, if you recall.

And if money is the deciding factor, I doubt that anyone would offer Epstein more money than Boston could.

Meanwhile, Cashman has already seen what it is like to work with a meddlesome owner in George Steinbrenner, so he isn't likely to have much interest. 

Plus, he has a job that is guaranteed to always be big-market with a huge payroll. Who is to say that Ricketts, with all that debt, is willing to be a high-stakes player in the baseball version of poker?

Yes, he is not under contract after this year, but if the Yankees want him, they will get him. Nobody outbids the Bronx Bombers when they really want someone.

As for Friedman, sure; he would likely salivate at the chance of taking over a club with a higher payroll.

But even though he operates without a contract, he basically has a job for life.

Plus, once the sale of the Houston Astros is complete, and the GM job opens up, Friedman is said to be more interested in that job. 

Now, this isn't a funeral here. There are plenty of assistant GMs out there who would love this job and could potentially be great candidates, like Jerry Dipoto and Ben Cherington.

Yes, they lack the cachet of the big guys, but they have proven that they have the background to be promoted to the next level.

Let's just hope that Ricketts, who has no more business picking a GM than I do, doesn't value experience so much that he decides to take on a crappy GM like Ned Colletti.

If that happens, I quit as a Cubs fan.