Theo Epstein Resigns as GM (merged threads)

[BoSox84]

I didnt even know his contract was up, but we better resign his ass.

 

http://www.projo.com/redsox/content/projo_20051007_07sean.1d4e30eb.html

 

BOSTON -- The clock is ticking on the 2005 Red Sox season, with the club one more loss away from the offseason

 

 

But, less obviously, another deadline is looming. General manager Theo Epstein's contract expires in 24 days (on Oct. 31), and the two sides have yet to reach an agreement on an extension.

 

Epstein became the youngest general manager in baseball history when he was hired on Nov. 25, 2003, weeks after Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane backed out of the job less than 24 hours after accepting the position.

 

The Red Sox have averaged 96 wins and qualified for the postseason in each of Epstein's three seasons, including a World Series win last October that ended the franchise's 86-year championship drought.

 

Epstein refused to comment on his job status, saying he preferred to concentrate on the Red Sox' postseason play.

 

"We're hopeful of getting something done after the season," said club president and CEO Larry Lucchino, reached last night. "It's a topic we've put aside through the closing point of the season. We've had some discussions, but we're not going to get into any public characterization of those discussions. We've all agreed not to (get into specifics). As I said, we hope to get something done when we're through playing, which I hope will be late October, rather than anytime soon."

 

Still, industry sources indicate that after tabling contract talks last winter and in spring training, Epstein and ownership discussed a new pact at least twice since the start of the regular season and there exists a significant gap in negotiations.

 

Epstein's current contract is set to run out just days before the annual general managers' meetings are held in Palm Springs, Calif., the traditional start of baseball's offseason.

 

Thanks to his age and relative inexperience at the time of his hiring, Epstein is believed to be one of the lowest-paid executives in the game. His three-year deal featured escalating salaries, with performance bonuses included, said a source from outside the organization who is familiar with the contract.

 

His salary is thought to be a mere fraction of the contract given to Beane, who would have averaged $2.5 million per season had he accepted the position.

 

The expiration on Epstein's contract comes at a time when assistant general manager Josh Byrnes may be in the running to replace Chuck LaMar, fired yesterday after nearly a decade at the helm of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

 

The Devil Rays now are controlled by New York investor Stuart Sternberg, who, many believe, is interested in hiring a young GM. Others mentioned for the Tampa job include Cleveland Guardians assistant GM Chris Antonetti and Tony Lacava, director of player development for the Toronto Blue Jays.

 

A baseball source said Matthew Silverman, who was named president of the Devil Rays yesterday, has been making calls in the last week, soliciting input on Byrnes.

 

Red Sox ownership may be purposely low-balling Epstein, believing that, with his Brookline, Mass. roots -- Epstein grew up only a few miles from Fenway Park -- the 31-year-old would not leave what it thought to be his dream job.

 

But the strategy is fraught with risks. As many as six other teams may be in the market for a new general manager. Those clubs include the Devil Rays, Arizona Diamondbacks, Baltimore Orioles, Washington Nationals, Philadelphia Phillies and, most intriguingly, the New York Yankees.

 

Current Yankees GM Brian Cashman's contract also is set to expire after the postseason, and while the Yankees' late-season turnaround and A.L. East title may have earned Cashman a contract extension offer from George Steinbrenner, the GM, who has guided the Yankees to three World Series wins, may be ready to go elsewhere.

 

A native of the Washington, D.C., area, Cashman may have his pick of as many as three jobs -- the Orioles, Nationals and Phillies -- near his hometown.

 

The Orioles, who experienced a nightmarish season on and off the field, are expected to soon dismiss executive vice president of baseball operations Jim Beattie and move Mike Flanagan, with whom he teamed in a unique two-headed GM arrangement, to another job in the front office.

 

The sale of the Nationals could be completed before the end of the month, leaving general manager Jim Bowden, hired by Major League Baseball last fall, in jeopardy.

 

The Phillies remained in contention for the National League wild-card spot until the final day of the season, but speculation about general manager Ed Wade's job security remains in baseball circles.

[ClayBuchholzIsDaFuture]

He deserves to get paid, even tho he kinda had an off-year this year ....

[Soxfan1]

He rejected a great offer earlier.

[mosox]

You cannot argue with his record, and now he's looking to cash in just like any other player. If they lose Theo and Byrnes, the team could be in trouble.

[User Name]

If we lose Theo, who else is there?

[noonanberg]

Yea, Theo may be the most valuable part of the Red Sox, other than Big Papi of course.

[yeszir]

I really can't see Theo gming any other team than the sox, at least not for the next couple years.

[Sox Fan on Cape]

I really can't see Theo gming any other team than the sox, at least not for the next couple years.

 

If some of the reports are true :

 

Money : We're talking Billy B. money here ( 2.5 mil ) or a cheap infielder

Years : Why not lock him up ( are they afraid of a decline ? )

 

I think there's more here, mainly control. That three way trade with the Rockies and Baltimore comes to mind. Someone, nicks that deal, and I don't think it was Theo. I believe that Theo wants total control, recognition ( top salary ), and security ( length of contract ).

[yankeessuck013]

give him whatever he wants

[example1]

Sign the guy to an 11 year 30-million dollar deal, NOW. I can watch our players come and go over time, but I always get the feeling that Theo cares about what happens to the sox as much as all of us here do, and that he's smarter than all of us to boot! We've got to keep this guy, especially for the price of an infielder.

[yankeessuck013]

Who ever thinks theo should be gone should seriously be banned from posting. Honestly his first 3 seasons the Sox have made the playoffs as much as under duquette.

[BoSox84]

Im for bring Theo back.However let me make this point, Duquette brought in Manny, Pedro, D. Lowe, Tek and I think a few more that I cant think of right now, so Theo had some things in place. I think Theo does a great job as far as the Minors go, he has rebuilt our minor league system, so we dont become the Yankees and have no one.

[yankeessuck013]

Epstein deal is in works

By Jeff Horrigan

 

Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein asked his baseball operations staff to stay away from Fenway Park yesterday and enjoy a long-overdue day off. That doesn't mean, however, that those above him have to adhere to the request.

 

In fact, Sox ownership is expected to begin earnest negotiations with Epstein as early as today on a new contract that will keep the Brookline native in charge of uniformed personnel decisions. Epstein, who was the youngest GM in baseball history when he was named to the position on Nov. 25, 2002, has constructed rosters that qualified for postseason play in three consecutive seasons for the first time in franchise history.

 

Principal owner John W. Henry indicated over the weekend that he expected to have Epstein signed to a new contract very soon.

 

"I don't foresee any problems, but I don't want to comment further at this time,'' Henry wrote in an e-mail

[BoSox21]

there's no reason this needs to be a long, drawn out affair. I don't think I'm the only one who wants the Red Sox GM to focus solely on making this team better instead of negotiating a contract for himself so if this isn't done by the end of the World Series, I'll be very upset

[yankeessuck013]

"The Sox have offered Epstein a three-year deal in the neighborhood of $850,000 to $900,000, which more than doubles his original contract, which was believed to be a three-year deal that topped out at around $350,000. The offer is also comparable to the salaries paid to the last two GMs to win a World Series, Larry Beinfest of the Marlins and Bill Stoneman of the Angels." -- 10.21, Gordon Edes, Boston Globe

[He Hate Me]

thats it? I think Cashman is getting like a $1.5 Million per year offer from George. I wonder if Theo will break some more chairs when he hears that

[yankeessuck013]

thats it? I think Cashman is getting like a $1.5 Million per year offer from George. I wonder if Theo will break some more chairs when he hears that

 

George Overpays Everyone...

[yankeessuck013]

Negotiations on a new contract for Red Sox GM Theo Epstein will continue this week. Multiple sources indicated that all sides expect a deal to be reached late in the week. The sides are still working on financial terms, but the difference in what is being offered and what is being sought is not insurmountable. Reports of acrimony between Epstein and team president Larry Lucchino appear to be unfounded.

[example1]

Good news, good news! I am hopeful that we can sign Theo and get on with the REAL signings. The possibility that he might NOT get signed is an absurdity that needs to be moved on from.

[Sox Fan on Cape]

Good news, good news! I am hopeful that we can sign Theo and get on with the REAL signings. The possibility that he might NOT get signed is an absurdity that needs to be moved on from.

Especially with the GM meeting coming up shortly.

[riverside sluggers]

this is the deal theo should get. once he hears about this, you know it will be nagging at him during the ngotiations. sox have so far just offered him $800K a season. Such a contract offer of $5 million for 3 seasons was offered to then GM Billy Beane.

 

Yankees offer Cashman three-year contract worth more than $5 million

By RONALD BLUM, AP Sports Writer

 

October 25, 2005

HOUSTON (AP) -- New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has been offered a three-year contract worth more than $5 million, and the team hopes he will decide in the next few days to stay. Cashman, who made $1.15 million in the final season of a three-year contract that expires Monday, has not told the team of his intentions, a high-ranking baseball official said Tuesday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because negotiations are ongoing.

 

Cashman and Yankees general partner Steve Swindal, who is handling negotiations on behalf of the team, did not return telephone calls seeking comment. New York's other offseason moves have been put off until Cashman makes his decision. The Yankees hope to finalize a contract with Larry Bowa to become third-base coach and plan to discuss a new contract for outfielder Hideki Matsui, who is eligible for free agency following the World Series.

 

Cashman has been the Yankees' general manager since Bob Watson quit after the 1997 season. If he would leave New York, several other teams are thought to be interested in talking with him, including the Philadelphia Phillies. Yankees manager Joe Torre said last week that he intends to fulfill the final two seasons of his contract, which runs through the 2007 season.

[MC Hammer]

Ca$hman getting more money than Theo is just laughable. I know Steiny over pays for everything, but there is no way in hell that Ca$hman has been a better GM, or done more for his team, or will do more for his team, than Theo. The GM of the Yankees is basically just a figure head to go out an annonce what Steiny wants done with the team, so I don't see why he needs more than a mill a year.

[Sox Fan on Cape]

HOUSTON -- With just five days left before Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein's three-year contract expires, negotiations between team CEO Larry Lucchino and his protege remain strained, as Epstein yesterday met with Lucchino and rejected an offer of $1.2 million a year for at least three years, according to a major league executive with knowledge of the negotiations.

It is not known whether that is the Red Sox' final offer, but it is believed that the matter will be resolved either way in the next 24-48 hours. While money is a major factor in the negotiations, it is growing increasingly apparent that there are other issues, namely a personality clash in management styles between Lucchino and Epstein that transcends chain-of-command questions.

The latest Sox proposal is well above the three-year deal averaging $850,000 a year that the club is believed to have offered Epstein as part of its original proposal, and would more than triple the $350,000 salary Epstein is believed to have received in 2005, the last year of a three-year deal for just under $1 million.

 

 

This doesn't sound good.

 

Source : http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2005/10/26/epstein_rejects_upgraded_offer_from_sox/

[MC Hammer]

This doesn't sound good.

 

Source : http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2005/10/26/epstein_rejects_upgraded_offer_from_sox/

f***!

[He Hate Me]

Speculation in today's newspaper indicates that Cashman is waiting on signing his new contract to help out Theo in his negotiations with Sox management. They're good friends, from what I hear, so I guess this could be feasible.

 

BTW, Cashman is supposedly signing a 4 year $8.8 million deal. No wonder Theo is holding out.

[MC Hammer]

Speculation in today's newspaper indicates that Cashman is waiting on signing his new contract to help out Theo in his negotiations with Sox management. They're good friends, from what I hear, so I guess this could be feasible.

 

BTW, Cashman is supposedly signing a 4 year $8.8 million deal. No wonder Theo is holding out.

I heard 3 years 6 mill this morning.

[He Hate Me]

I heard 3 years 6 mill this morning.

 

they're reporting that he has that option as well. Apparently, george is smart enough to know that if he wants Cashman to stick around for anoother year of bs from his front office cronies, he gotta give him more cash

[mosox]

Certainly looks like Theo will not be the one to blink here. This is shaping up to be a public relations disaster for the Sox.

[26 to 6]

Ca$hman getting more money than Theo is just laughable. I know Steiny over pays for everything, but there is no way in hell that Ca$hman has been a better GM, or done more for his team, or will do more for his team, than Theo. The GM of the Yankees is basically just a figure head to go out an annonce what Steiny wants done with the team, so I don't see why he needs more than a mill a year.

haha

 

Im not taking anything away from Theo, who has done a magnificent job up there, but I have to believe that Cashman is the better GM just because he has put together some deals over the years that just make you say "WOW"...and also, Theo doesnt have to deal with everything that Cashman deals with...whatever though, just my opinion.

 

And also, George doesnt have as active a role as he has had in the past, so its pretty unfair to say that Cashman is just the figurehead for what George wants. IF everything was done according to what George wants then Cano wouldnt have been brought up, we probably would not have seen Aaron Small or Shawn Chacon in the Bronx, and so on. This isnt the 80's guys, George sits at home in Tampa and talks with his guys about a bunch of ********, most of which doesnt get done.

------------------------

Is it just me, or does anyone else think that Theo is going about this the wrong way? This guy has been a GM for 3 years, I dont think he has the right to be making all of these demands. If it wasnt for the Red Sox he would be making a small fraction of what he gets now. And he is a Massachusetts boy, so much for the hometown discount.

 

..I just find it odd that after all he has done there that he would be willing to bolt for more money. He seemes like he would be a Red Sock for life.

[MC Hammer]

haha

 

Im not taking anything away from Theo, who has done a magnificent job up there, but I have to believe that Cashman is the better GM just because he has put together some deals over the years that just make you say "WOW"...and also, Theo doesnt have to deal with everything that Cashman deals with...whatever though, just my opinion.

 

And also, George doesnt have as active a role as he has had in the past, so its pretty unfair to say that Cashman is just the figurehead for what George wants. IF everything was done according to what George wants then Cano wouldnt have been brought up, we probably would not have seen Aaron Small or Shawn Chacon in the Bronx, and so on. This isnt the 80's guys, George sits at home in Tampa and talks with his guys about a bunch of ********, most of which doesnt get done.

------------------------

Is it just me, or does anyone else think that Theo is going about this the wrong way? This guy has been a GM for 3 years, I dont think he has the right to be making all of these demands. If it wasnt for the Red Sox he would be making a small fraction of what he gets now. And he is a Massachusetts boy, so much for the hometown discount.

 

..I just find it odd that after all he has done there that he would be willing to bolt for more money. He seemes like he would be a Red Sock for life.

Please name one move that made me, or anyone else, say WOW. I'm not counting anything I said wow for when the words what a dumbass followed it ... like when he over paid Pavano.

 

I will admit that the last time I really heard about George making the decisions was with the Sheffield/Vlad thing, but I'm willing to bet he makes his fair share of decisions.

 

It's still sox even if it's singular.