Theo Epstein to Cubs Official: What Are the Next Steps?

ESPN reported tonight that the deal is now official. Theo Epstein has resigned as a member of the Boston Red Sox and is the new Cubs President of Baseball Operations.

Bruce Levine was on ESPN TV just now saying that the threat of Bud Selig getting involved as a mediator possibly helped move the two sides to close this deal.

After weeks of wrangling, the two sides have agreed to allow Epstein to come to the Cubs although no compensation has been announced.

Once the compensation is determined, the two sides will announce it, and if they cannot come to an agreement, Selig could still get involved.

In essence, what this announcement means is that the sides have decided it is in baseball's best interests to allow this to materialize without worrying about the specifics of the exact compensation.

So Tom Ricketts has his man.

Meanwhile, what are the next steps?

It is expected that Jed Hoyer will be named the GM of the Cubs, though it is not going to require any compensation from the Cubs to nab Hoyer.

Josh Byrnes will likely become the new GM of the Padres. He is a favorite of Tom Moorad anyway, plus Moorad and Ricketts are friends.

Ben Cherington will almost certainly be named the new GM of the Red Sox, who have imploded following their late season collapse that resulted in a second consecutive season without a playoff berth for the BoSox.

The Sox have called a press conference to announce their new GM on Tuesday.

Epstein is not perfect, but he represents a huge upgrade over Jim Hendry, and the addition of Hoyer and possibly other former Red Sox front office personnel should enhance the Cubs front office.

I have been a huge critic of Ricketts, but kudos to him for getting this done.