Thursday, October 06, 2011

More GM talk, Z, and Ricketts...

- Still no report on whether or not the Red Sox have granted access to talk to Epstein. We likely will not hear anything until a decision has been made like accepting the position, turning it down, or the Red Sox denying the Cubs to talk to Epstein.

- Andrew Friedman works without a contract and can interview with any club at anytime without permission. He is currently the Cubs number 2 choice and up until recently he seemed entrenched in Tampa Bay.

- There have been reports that Ricketts may open the door to Epstein to a combination of President of Baseball Operations and GM.

- There is no way the Cubs will give compensation in the form of Castro to the Red Sox for Epstein. NO WAY that happens.

- I can see the Red Sox getting some compensation in the form of cash or a minor leaguer but not a top prospect or player like Castro or Brett Jackson.

- There is some talk out of Boston that fans are questioning if Epstein should even be back as Boston’s GM.

- Carlos Zambrano denies talking to Guillen about playing for him in Miami. OK Pinocchio!

- Buster Olney thinks Theo ends up with the Cubs.

- Another rumor out of the Chicago media is that Theo Epstein will require a higher payroll from Ricketts than the 2011 payroll to get things “turned around quicker.” Whether Ricketts meets those demands remains to be seen.

- I talked to one source that says Theo Epstein has all the leverage and Ricketts would make certain exceptions to land Theo but will not move on the Red Sox crazy rumored demands for compensation.


Until Next Time

Tuesday, October 04, 2011

GM Rumors, Manager Talk, and Player Movement UPDATE!!!!

UPDATE! 5:28 PM CT-

According to multiple reports but first reported by Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe the Cubs have asked permission to interview Theo Epstein. More to come on this as it develops.

Here is the latest on the GM madness, splashed with a little manager and player talk-

- Gordon Edes talked to a source that says there is a 50-50 shot Epstein bolts for the Cubs job. I reported via twitter the same thing on Saturday from a very reliable source; maybe Gordon and I have the same source.

- Ricketts is remaining pretty quite on the GM search by design but did talk to Fox Business Network Monday and said there are a lot of good candidates out there and he is going to talk to a handful of them. Although he did not say who is in the handful.

- Reports are out that Billy Beane is no longer a candidate for the job.

- Some reports are saying Andrew Friedman and Brian Cashman are still possible but I am hearing both will stay put.

- It sounds like the Red Sox will not stand in the way of Epstein if he wants interview with any club.

- Two of the candidates that is rumored that Ricketts has interest in addition to Epstein is Rick Hahn and Ben Cherington.

- The Cubs also have interest in professional scouting director with the Braves John Coppolella.

- The Red Sox and White Sox have interest in Ryne Sandberg as their next manager.

- The Red Sox will ask for compensation for Epstein to leave for the Cubs. Probably at least two prospects.

- Guillen and Zambrano have talked about being together in Miami. Rumors are the Cubs are willing to pay Z in deferred payments for 2012 but the fish will be responsible for his option in 2013. Looks like a slam dunk deal to me, Randy Bush get it done!

- I talked to a source that says he puts Quade chances of coming back at 10%.

- I talked to another baseball exec that says he would be “shocked” if Sandberg does not end up on the north side of Chicago.

- Levine says Brett Jackson will battle for a starting spot in the outfield next season.

- Levine says the Cubs could take on a contract the size of what Fielder is worth but is wondering if they have enough money for everyone else.

- Levine thinks the Cubs can acquire some pitching from the Fish for Z.

- A source close to the Cubs says Ricketts is waiting to see what the Yankees and Rays do in the first round of the playoffs before he starts asking to interview already available candidates.

- Someone emailed me the two tier system Ricketts is using for this process. Tier one includes Cashman, Friedman, Epstein, Daniels and Beane. Tier two includes Hahn, Cherington, Coppolella, Kim Ng, and David Forst. This contradicts other reports I have heard especially most saying Cashman, Friedman, and Daniels not be interested and Beane dropping out of the Cubs GM race. It also names two people that have not gotten a ton of publicity and they are Assistant GM David Forst and baseball guru Kim Ng.



Be sure to check here with the most comprehensive Chicago Cubs rumors and news here on Hot Stove Cubbies. Also check me out on Twitter for the most up to date information on everything Cubs.



Until Next Time….