Theo Epstein to Cubs: Where Does Boston Turn Next?

It may not be official yet, but Theo Epstein is as good as gone from the GM position for the Boston Red Sox. The Chicago Cubs have agreed to sign Epstein for five years for a total of about $15 million to $20 million, according to ESPN.com. He still had one year left on his current contract with the Red Sox that was worth about $3 million with bonuses.

This is an awful way to end a career on a Boston team, and now he will be scrutinized for leaving when the team got too shaky for him to deal with. Epstein should have talked to his star pitchers to stop the drinking and to have them work out more.

He also should have dealt with John Lackey showing off his teammates before it got out of hand.

It was not Epstein's fault that the collapse happened, but he failed to address the issues that the Red Sox faced down the stretch. The Cubs have even less money to work with and hopefully he does something good for the Cubs as he did for the Red Sox.

Ben Cherington

Cherington is the most plausible candidate for the GM vacancy that the Sox have. He has been with the Sox since 1999, and he has been throughout the system, including player development and scouting.

He could be the GM as early as announced as early as Oct. 13, says the Chicago Tribune.

He is a great fit because he basically has the same philosophy that Epstein had with player development and working on getting deals done. He also took Co-GM duties when Epstein walked away for some time in 2005.

If anyone would be the new GM, then Cherington is the guy.

Logan White

Logan White is the Dodgers’ assistant GM of scouting and is rumored to be a GM candidate on mlbtraderumors.com.

White has drafted players like Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, Russel Martin, and even Matt Kemp in his tenure with the Dodgers. He could be a great asset to the Sox when they draft pitching prospects because he was in fact drafted by the Seattle Mariners in 1984.

He had three years in the minors before calling it quits and began teaching. He then became the scout for the Dodgers and is now on the fast track to becoming a GM someday real soon. 

Curt Shilling

Yes I know Curt Schilling was a Red Sox pitching stud thanks to his "bloody sock," but this would be an interesting move for John Henry to make in the wake of Theo Epstein's absence. He may not have experience, but he has the baseball mind that the Red Sox need.

Schilling has tons of baseball knowledge and according to ESPNBoston.com, he believes that there needs to be some changes to the team's roster before Opening Day of the 2012 season.

He said, “I don’t think John Lackey can ever put that uniform on again” and predicted, “There will be some guys who will walk on that field on Opening Day next year and get booed louder than any New York Yankee who ever set foot [on the field].’’  

John Henry and Larry Lucchino need to do something to get this Red Sox team rolling in 2012, and signing Curt Schilling as a GM would be great for the players to hear from someone that knows the game and take them out of their conceited and entitled playing ways.

Matt Klentak

Matt Klentak probably would be a very intriguing option for the Red Sox to bring in to replace Theo Epstein.

For one, he is from Massachusetts and was a huge fan of the Red Sox growing up and actually got his first job with the Rockies thanks to a connection with the Sox.

According to mlbtraderumors.com,

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"After a year in Colorado’s front office, Klentak moved on to the labor relations department in the commissioner’s office. He worked on the 2006 Collective Bargaining Agreement and later advised teams on rules and the CBA.

Andy MacPhail hired Klentak in 2008 and he now works on contracts, 40-man roster management and arbitration as the Orioles’ director of baseball operations."

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This man would make a great fit in the Sox front office, and if Cherington is not promoted, then my vote goes to Matt Klentak.