Theo Epstein is leaving the Hub for the Windy City and will get a new title and a bigger salary, the Red Sox will get cash and possibly a few minor league prospects in return. The deal is said to be for 5 years and worth $15 million. In addition to being President of Baseball Operations, Theo will also be the GM.
I was sitting in the 19th row behind home plate at Coors Field on Oct. 28th, 2007 when Jonathan Papelbon threw strike three to deliver the four game sweep and World Series victory. Theo was sitting a few rows in front of me for what was likely his best moment as GM of the Red Sox. I patted him on the back and told him congratulations as he quickly went to the clubhouse to celebrate with the team. He later joined the team on the field for postgame interviews and poured a can of beer over rookie Jacoby Ellsbury’s head. This was his moment; the team he had built up to replace most of the “over the hill” 2004 championship team had won it all.
After 2007 Theo’s moves were sometimes miraculous and sometimes multimillion dollar busts. The on-paper championship team of the 2011 season collapsed and Epstein has to share some of the blame. Maybe the Red Sox need to clean house to get back to their winning ways but there is no question that the Red Sox are losing a very talented baseball mind who is also shares in some of the credit for two World Series Championships.
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