Chicago Cubs Rumors: Epstein as President, Hoyer as GM
A new wrinkle has emerged in the ongoing Cubs-Epstein saga. That wrinkle is Jed Hoyer, current GM of the San Diego Padres. The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that Theo Epstein will receive a President or CEO position while Jed Hoyer will be the Cubs’ new GM. Hoyer was Epstein’s assistant GM in Boston during their two World Series wins. Padres VP Josh Byrnes is expected to replace Hoyer as Padres’ GM.
What’s holding up the deal? The Red Sox are shooting for the moon. It was reported earlier in the week that Boston had asked for Matt Garza as compensation for Epstein. Now, ESPN.com is reporting that the Sox initially asked for Starlin Castro. It was when the Cubs refused to give up Castro that they asked for Garza instead.
TOP NEWS
Assessing Every MLB Team's Development System ⚾
.png?w=256)
10 Scorching MLB Takes 🌶️
Yankees Call Up 6'7" Prospect 📈
After the request for Garza was refused, Boston asked the Cubs to take John Lackey’s contract with just under $46M remaining over the next three years. When the Cubs refused this, Boston lowered its sights to their two top prospects, Brett Jackson and Trey McNutt who are now reportedly also no longer part of the deal.
Tom Ricketts deserves a lot of credit for holding a firm position. Otherwise you would have seen Garza, Jackson or McNutt in a Red Sox jersey this week. Or even worse, John Lackey in a Cubs jersey.
There are some indications that this deal might have been in the works for a while now. Ricketts met with Padres owner Jeff Moorad and Hoyer during the Cubs final series of the season in San Diego. Luckily the Red Sox are running out of names on their wish list, indicating that what seems like the longest GM hiring of all time should be drawing to a close.
More Cubs Articles:
.png?w=480)
