Report: Epstein's Days Could Be Numbered In Boston
(CBS) You've heard the rumors for weeks -- if not months -- by now.
Yet, neither side will acknowledge reports that Theo Epstein may be headed to the Cubs. Both Cubs owner Tom Ricketts and Red Sox owner John Henry have done their best to engage in verbal ggymnastics -- never actually answering a question about the rumors with a straight answer.
Gerry Callahan of the Boston Herald thinks comments made by Henry last week on a Boston radio station could indicate the end of Epstein's run in Boston.
Callhan writes:
"...Everyone seems to think (Epstein to the Cubs) will happen soon. How could it not after Henry spoke of the "shelf life" of a general manager and the "pressure cooker" that is the city of Boston? You just don't mention those things if you want to keep a guy in your organization for the next five years. You don't bring up the shelf life of something unless you believe it's drawing to an end."
Granted, Epstein has had one of the most impressive runs by a general manager in the history of the game. He took a "cursed" franchise and won two World Series nine years. But as Henry said, Epstein can't be the GM in Boston forever.
"Epstein is in the last year of his contract with the Red Sox, and there has been no talk of an extension or a raise in Boston. How could there be? The owners are not happy with the performance of the team. They might have considered giving Theo one more season to right the ship, but along came the Chicago Cubs. They looked at Epstein and saw a potential savior."
