The Cubs and Angels officially have general manager vacancies and, depending on what Buck Showalter decides to do, the Orioles could be looking for a GM, too. Throw in the uncertainty surrounding Theo Epstein's future and many expiring contracts for managers and there’s the possibility for a lot of leadership changes in the next month or so. Here are the details from around MLB…
- Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts declined to address rumors that Red Sox GM Theo Epstein may be interested in coming to Chicago, writes Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune.
- The Angels dismissed assistant GM Ken Forsch and special assistant Gary Sutherland, according to Mike DiGiovanna of the LA Times. They dismissed GM Tony Reagins on Friday.
- ESPN.com's Buster Olney hears that the Red Sox have had informal conversations about what they'll do if Epstein is no longer their GM (Twitter link).
- The Red Sox aren’t targeting Bobby Valentine or Joe Torre for their managerial opening, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com. It appears that Epstein is considering two candidates without MLB managerial experience, according to Heyman.
- People who know Epstein tell Heyman that the GM doesn’t expect to work for the Red Sox for life. It’s possible that Red Sox ownership will add a couple years to Epstein’s contract (it expires after 2012) or change his title.
- Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts likes the Red Sox organization, not just Epstein, according to Scott Miller of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). That could mean the Cubs are interested in assistant GM Ben Cherington.
- The Red Sox would surely demand and obtain compensation if the Cubs hire Epstein, so Dave Cameron of FanGraphs wonders how much he is worth. Cameron isn't sure that spending big on recognizable executives makes sense, since there's a steady supply of qualified candidates who are available more cheaply.
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says it's time for the Red Sox to extend Epstein and that it would be a mistake on their part to let him go.
- The Cubs' shortlist includes Cherington, White Sox assistant GM Rick Hahn and Braves director of professional scouting John Coppolella, according to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun.
- Connolly explains that he expects the Orioles to hire someone from outside of the organization with a background in scouting and/or player development if Showalter continues managing the team.
- Though GM John Mozeliak says he has a “very good” relationship with manager Tony La Russa, Heyman hears that some top Cardinals people don’t believe the skipper is worth his salary of $5MM or so.
- Despite rumors connecting him to the White Sox, La Russa says he’s not going to manage another team, according to Heyman.
- The Angels are meeting to start forming their list of GM candidates today and they seem likely to go outside of the organization for the position, Heyman writes.
- Don't forget to check out our list of GM Candidates.
Did anyone again mention Andrew Friedman for the Cubs? And, shouldn’t Jerry DiPoto in the top tier?
Yes he should. After reading Cameron’s article, if it’s going to cost the Cubs talent to get a new GM, why wouldn’t they go after guys like DiPoto, Hahn, Coppolella or Cherington?
Varitek as player-coach?
Please God, no.
I like the idea of Tek coaching, but I don’t think he has anything left as a player.
The idea of Varitek managing keeps coming up, but I don’t think there’s any possibility. I’d love him to stay a coach in the organization however I think it should be in the minors for now.
Being a Cubs fan I hate the Cardinals, but LaRussa and Duncan are worth their weight in gold.
What is this big infatuation everyone has with Ryne Sandberg? What has he done? He’s a high profile name that has done well in the minor leagues. What about a guy like Rick Burleson? What has Sandberg done that Burleson hasn’t? In fact, I would say Burleson has done a lot more. I looked him up: He has big league coaching experience with the A’s, Angels and Red Sox. He was a fan favorite while he played here in Boston and he has been managing down in the minors since the late 90s. He has also been winning while down there at every level from Rookie ball to AAA.
Why is it that a guy will be considered for a job (i.e Sandberg with the Cubs) and then all of a sudden he’s the next hot, big manager candidate? Maybe Burleson isn’t the right
guy for the job. I don’t know. But he has that hard-nosed, fiery attitude that was lacking in the Red Sox clubhouse this season. Maybe that is what they need.
Maybe Burleson should pout and complain about not getting a job then people will take notice in him.
I’ve been bringing Burleson’s name up for years. He even asked for the job when he was inducted into the sox HOF some years back.
Yeah, the Rooster is the man! I got the idea from reading somebody else’s comment in a different post. Might have been yours.
I am curious as to why Tony Reagins lasted as long as he did as the Angels GM?
It’s not so much that he traded for Vernon Wells, the bigger problem being the Blue Jays snookered him by trading Napoli to the Rangers. I doubt Tony would have done that on his own! The lesson to be learned here, is that GM’s should have a clause written in the trade, if a GM flips a player that they just traded for to a team within the original team’s division, the original team gets a player from a pre determined list or even nullifies the trade. I think what the Blue Jays and Rangers did was dirty pool. It was legal though, I am just surprised there wasn’t much more uproar.
I could Tony Reagins becoming the next Oriole GM though because of this LOL
A team is free to trade a player where they please. If the Angels didn’t want him in the division they could have held on to him. There is no uproar because there is no issue.
This post is beyond ridiculous..
Its not like Reagins traded one weaver and the jays flipped him to Texas.. Reagins traded a player who wasn’t even going to be given a chance to play in LA.. The only thing there should be uproar about is how and entire staff couldn’t figure out that Napoli was actually a pretty decent player. .
This post is beyond ridiculous.. that’s actually pretty funny.
Oh well, can’t win them all.
sorry bud, I get your frustration about how things turned out.. but to say the rangers and jays r dirty because they found value in a player your coach didnt even want is a little much.
lunchbox, I am not mad. Heck, I am not even an Angels fan.
Originally, it just was the principal of the matter
In principle, I agree with you. It’s smart to include for division rivals, and it has been done before. BUT, the issue isn’t a clause. The issue is that Reagins never thought Napoli was worth that clause, or playing time, and therefore expendable. I think THAT is more so the issue with Reagins’ shortcomings.
why umad bro
Have guys like Rosenthal forgotten the number of “boners” pulled by Epstein and the hundreds of millions he’s cost Henry on players that were total busts? Haqs he also forgotten that Epstein had Joh Henry’s very large checkbook? I don’t believe what I’m hearing here. Anyone who can sign their name on a check could have signed the same players. Geez, when did Epstein and his mistakes become an elixir to some?
yup, no one is aware of or talking about boston’s free agent busts. somehow it has gone completely unreported
and that’s a shame, because the only thing GMs do is sign free agents
…You don’t read a lot do you?
Geez, when did Epstein and his mistakes become an elixir to some?
I think the two championships might….uhhh…let him off the hook a little. So does the fact that his team isn’t all free agent signings….
Yep, the draft and trade market had nothing to do with the two titles. Sigh…
I love how people have elected to hen peck his big ticket flops instead of his smaller uber successes from Ortiz and Mueller to Millar and Beltre. He pretty much works out fairly evenly in free agency which is more than a lot of MLB Gm’s can say.
Even the deals he hasn’t done (Santana for Lester, Ellsbury and Masterson anyone?) aren’t getting much play as maybe they should. He’s traded well and saved oodles of money by developing a core of players over the past four years that includes an AL MVP 2B, a potential MVP CF, the closer with a record second to only Mariano Rivera at this point in his career, two front line starters in Lester and Masterson and Clay Buchholz an a f-ton of major leaguers. So sure, he’s a terrible GM and should be fired because of a 30 game stretch in 8 years that includes two world series titles, and multiple ALCS trips.
This thread makes my face hurt.
With..All this GM TALK…I think the Cubs is the most challenging yes the Red Sox Is right there too..but think of the talent the Red Sox have compared to the Cubs…I’m hoping 4 a Cherington or Coppolella of the Braves….Hahn has a outside shot….I really don’t know why the Rickett’s love the Red Sox so much… If I was the Cubs I would build around the Braves & not the Red Sox…Yes the Red Sox have 2 World championships..and look at them…NOW…the Braves have a good supply of pitching..and lots of division titles to add 2 there list…I mean c-mon they are loaded top 2 bottom of their line-up…just look what Coppolella..asst GM could do 4 a CUBS team…a Cherington would not be a bad choice…I just wish they would get their head out of the ASS and pick one…so the Cubs land a good one before another team does….like Angel’s or O’s…I was alittle hasty on hiring Sandberg..
I really don’t want Bobby Valentine…Brenley would be OK…Jerry Manual would be ok..Francona is a lame duck…needs a break from baseball 4 alittle while…GOOD LUCK…RICKETTS…
Well.. The Cubs want to model after the Red Sox because of how comparable they are… Both had long droughts for world series titles.. Although i would say that the braves GM has done a nice job, division titles do you nothing in Chicago.. Hendry won us division titles and now where is he.. I am a die hard cubs fan and I want theo and ryne as our GM and manager.. Ryne has succeeded at every level.. Why not give him 3 years 8 M or so? We have been waiting 103 years so if this works yay if not then try something else
Guess if knew the Sox were about to hire Joe Torre as manager then would think (myself) anybody but him and that scowl, sour look of his all the time and that means my choice which is Bobby V.
For those who have read Jim Bouton’s “Ball 4″ decades ago, he has a perfect description with regards to Torre’s look and that was from 40 years ago and it has gotten ‘aged” to put it kindly which is not exactly printable here.
Joe Torre is 73 years old, for crying out loud. He belongs in a nursing home, almost…
Theo, cross Torre off your list.
You need a much younger manager, one who doesn’t take cat naps on the bench between innings. The same goes for Tony, ‘I am old enough to get social security with bonus points” La Russa. He too has one foot in the grave and his other on a banana peel.
Get someone, young, experienced, full of enthusiasm, a disciplinarian who can blend a multi-ethnic roster into a championship level team.
Well Joe is still 7 years younger than McKeon was this year, just saying.
But seriously, you’re right as I see it. No way Torre is going back in the dugout unless it’s as honorary manager at an old timers reunion game.
I am pretty confident I could GM the O’s, and do a good job of it. All I need is a chance.
If you could get rid of the owner the few fans remaining in Baltimore would buy you dinner at the Outback. Or Gino’s…maybe.
Doesn’t Theo have enough trouble with his bullpens with hiring Torre to manage them?
Daniel Bard, meet Scott Proctor! You two might have a lot in common sooner than you think.
Nah. Bard’s name does not remind one of the name of a treatment for communicable disease…
How is Joe torre and redsox coach vacancy even in the same post