He's BACK!
Yes, our boy, Theo Epstein is rejoining the Red Sox - in a " full-time baseball operations capacity, details of which will be announced next week.”
It it's like a huge sigh of relief is sweeping RSN. I was just over in the Remy Report chat room - and there was a lot rejoicing and alot of "I told you so's" I think we all knew he was probably coming back, but yeah!
And the other good news - Bronson Arroyo signed a three-year deal. Finally some good things are happening!
And the other good news - Bronson Arroyo signed a three-year deal. Finally some good things are happening!
posted by Beth at 8:44 PM
3 Comments:
I liked this from that ever-so-cute Globe reporter's column:
Neither Hoyer nor Cherington would directly address the job description awaiting Epstein, and how they will be affected, but both spoke of maintaining continuity in Epstein's absence, suggesting they will work for him, rather than Epstein working for them.
"We're definitely a stronger organization with Theo a part of it," Hoyer said. "Certainly, Ben and I, our goal all along was to add continuity and keep in place the structure we all built together."
Added Cherington: "When Jed and I accepted these positions several weeks ago, we did so in most part to maintain a sense of continuity in baseball [operations]. Theo's return will be a significant step toward maintaining that continuity."
Translation: "We've enjoyed our time as placeholders, and we just hope we get to hang on to our titles long enough that they look good on the resume!"
I'm still a little worried about the possibility of trading Arroyo. I think he clearly made a salary concession for the Red Sox, and I'd hate to see them spin him to another team. Plus, I think he thrives here, and, shades of Cabrera vs. Renteria, sometimes it's a dangerous experiment to see who can breathe the air here and who can't.
I think that Ben & Jed will remain GMs - and Theo will be VP of Baseball Operations. What's going to be interesting is to see if LL jumps ship to the Nationals, as has been rumored.
As for Bronson, the conspiracy theorist in me wonders if Theo whispered something in his ear at the Hot Stove concert...
I agree in the sense that Ben and Jed will retain the title--it would be humiliating to take it away--but I think Theo's position will negate much of the authority that used to come with the title.
BTW, I think Theo will be named "Grand Poobah." ^_^
If anyone had any doubts about Theo coming back, they would have been dispelled by Hot Stove. Between the roundtable--which I didn't see--and the concert--which I did--he had plainly decided that he still wanted to be with the Sox.
I'm of two minds as to whether Lucchino would leave. I don't know what he would give up contractually. I do think the deal he has with the Sox is the best he's ever had. And for the most part I think he's been very successful. I just think he's a weasel in a business suit, and he underestimated both what Theo would take and how much the organization needed a front man who wasn't a weasel in a business suit.
Post a Comment
<< Home