Theo Epstein Cubs: Red Sox GM Shipping out to Chicago?

The Boston Red Sox's historic September collapse has already cost them their manager, and it sounds like they may soon lose their general manager as well.

According to Steve Buckley of the Boston Herald, Red Sox GM Theo Epstein is "on the cusp" of leaving his post in Boston to become the general manager of the Chicago Cubs. An announcement could be made any time within the next 24 to 48 hours.

Until that time comes, Buckley says that two holdups are going to have to be resolved. The first, obviously, is that Epstein is still under contract with the Red Sox, and it is believed that the club's brass prefers him to stay. The second is that the Red Sox are going to need to get "something real" as compensation for Epstein if he bolts for Chicago.

In this case, "something real" presumably means a player(s), cash or both.

Either way, a source told Buckley that all of this "is going to be resolved very soon."

Epstein has been at the controls in Boston ever since 2002. In his tenure, the Sox have won two World Series and made the playoffs six times.

However, if and when Epstein becomes the Cubs' GM, the news should come as a surprise as absolutely nobody.

I say this because the writing has been on the wall for a couple weeks now that Epstein might be looking to bow out of the Red Sox organization. Sure, he's done good things in Boston, but it's not exactly a great place to be after the collapse he and the team's management just had to watch. He could stay, but now is as good a time as any to pursue other opportunities.

And for all intents and purposes, there really are no opportunities like becoming the Cubs' GM. Whipping the Cubs into shape is going to be a challenging process, but that's kind of the point. If Epstein ends up putting a World Series-winning team in Wrigley Field, he could very well be revered as the best GM who ever lived.

It's a grandiose proposition, to be sure, but snapping World Series droughts in both Boston and Chicago will go into the books as a grandiose accomplishment. It would be a tale worthy of Michael Lewis' pen.

Oh, there's also the attraction of Epstein's job in Chicago including "powers greater than he has in Boston." I can't say for sure what that means exactly, but my guess is that these powers would mean a larger salary for Epstein.

For now, we'll see. It sounds like an announcement could come any time.

Once again, don't be surprised if it is announced that Epstein is taking his talents to Chicago.