Epstein leaving Red Sox!

[Dave's PA Rental]

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20051031&content_id=1262921&vkey=news_bos&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos

holey freakin' moley.

[Dave's PA Rental]

Epstein, Sox can't reach new deal
After three years, general manager decides to leave
By Ian Browne / MLB.com


BOSTON -- Theo Epstein, the general manager of the Red Sox for the past three years, has decided to leave the organization instead of accepting a new contract.
"The Boston Red Sox and Theo Epstein today announced that the senior vice president/general manager has declined the club's offer to extend his contract for future years and thus will step down from his post," the club said in a statement. "Epstein will continue, however, to work with the organization for several days to assist in an orderly transition and to prepare further for the upcoming GM meetings and other off-season activities."

Epstein's contract expires at midnight, meaning he will then be free to work with any team in the Major Leagues. There are currently general manager vacancies with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Epstein and Red Sox president/CEO Larry Lucchino had several negotiating sessions over the last week or so, trying to get a new deal done.

The Boston Globe reported Monday that Epstein and the Red Sox had agreed to a new three-year deal that just needed to be formally announced. Apparently, that was not the case, as Monday's stunning news was revealed by late afternoon.

The most recent public words from the Red Sox had come Thursday, when Epstein and Lucchino issued a joint statement that stated the following:

"We had a meeting over lunch today to continue our discussions and to conduct other business as well. We made progress, but we anticipate no further statement until there is something to announce. We are hopeful that these discussions will work out for the best. In the meantime, we continue 'business as usual.'"

But business was anything but "usual" on Monday, a Halloween that produced more of a trick than a treat for Red Sox fans.

Under Epstein's watch, which started on Nov. 25, 2002, the Red Sox went to the postseason in three consecutive years. Most memorable were the accomplishments of 2004, when the Red Sox won the World Series for the first time in 86 years.

While Epstein inherited a talented core of players -- some who remain and others who have since moved on -- he successfully added to that nucleus while at the same time overseeing a farm system that made a dramatic turnaround the last couple of years.

The move Epstein might never top is the free agent signing of David Ortiz for just more than $1 million after the big designated hitter was released by the Twins following the 2002 season. All Ortiz has done since his arrival is emerge into one of the elite sluggers in the game, not to mention one of the most popular players in franchise history.

And in another master stroke, Epstein was able to reach a two-year extension with Ortiz (including an option for a third year) in May 2004, ensuring that the left-handed slugger will remain in Boston through at least the 2007 season.

There have been some other memorable moves, including the dramatic trade and subsequent signing of Curt Schilling over the Thanksgiving holiday in 2003, not to mention the bold deal that sent one-time icon Nomar Garciaparra out of Boston for Orlando Cabrera and Doug Mientkiewicz on July 31, 2004.

Other less-heralded moves have helped stabilize the team, including the one that brought third baseman Bill Mueller to Boston in 2003, though the switch-hitter is now eligible for free agency. Ageless Mike Timlin, one of Epstein's first free agent signings, has been the rock of the bullpen the last three seasons and will officially sign a new deal this week that will keep him with the Sox in 2006.

As with any GM, there were moves that didn't work out so well. Side-winder Byung-Hyun Kim, for one, never got comfortable in his time in Boston. Ditto for fellow right-hander Ramiro Mendoza. Shortstop Edgar Renteria was signed last winter for four years at $40 million and struggled in his first year with the Red Sox.

By and large, Epstein's moves worked out, making him popular among the team's rabid fan base. The fact that he grew up in Brookline, Mass. -- not much more than a Manny Ramirez homer from Fenway -- had done nothing to hurt that popularity.

When the Red Sox put Epstein into his current position at age 28, he became the youngest general manager in baseball history, an honor that has since been taken by Jon Daniels with the Texas Rangers. Epstein hit the ground running during his time on the job, to say the least, making his youth a non-issue.

With the Red Sox front office now in a state of limbo, the team has several key baseball decisions ahead of them.

Johnny Damon, the team's center fielder and leadoff hitter the last four years, has filed for free agency. Veteran left-hander David Wells -- a 15-game winner in 2005 -- has already told the team he'd prefer to be traded to a West Coast team for what will likely be the final season of his career.

Superstar slugger Ramirez, according to a report, has yet again asked to be traded out of Boston. As a 10-5 man (10 years in the league, five with existing team), Ramirez must approve any potential trade, which would make it a highly complex endeavor.

The bullpen, which played a big role in the 2005 team not clinching a playoff berth until the final game of the regular season, also appears to need a retooling.

But it's a retooling that will take place under the watch of someone other than Epstein.

[Brett]

Cool maybe the Dodgers can get him.

[Dave's PA Rental]

...and the Sox get DePodesta?...

just shuffle the deck...like NFL coaches...

[Dave's PA Rental]

I gotta tell you, I am legitimately SHOCKED.

It's like the total opposite kind of shocked from when I heard the Sox signed Manny...

[Brett]

Originally posted by Dave's PA Rental
...and the Sox get DePodesta?...

Just kill yourself now if that's the case.

[Dave's PA Rental]

Originally posted by Brett
Just kill yourself now if that's the case.

...that's what im hearing...

[POJO_Risin]

lmfao...how do you really feel about Depodesta...

I think under the right circumstances....Depodesta will be a good GM...

You can't fuck up that much in LA...and not learn a few lessons...

he'll end up fronting someone soon...

what about John Hart PA?

He just left Texas...

[Dave's PA Rental]

Originally posted by POJO_Risin

what about John Hart PA?

He just left Texas...

Wasnt he the GM for the Tribe back in the day?...

[POJO_Risin]

Yeah...he built the team that won the division from 95-01...

stepped down in Texas because they had a 28 year old kid he was grooming...

I think he'd take the Sox job as a swan song...and a way to get some of that luster back...

[POJO_Risin]

Depodesta was also with the Tribe for 3 years...before leaving for the Dodgers job...

he was all set to take the A's job when Beane was set to leave...but when Beane stayed...the Dodgers swooped in...

[tjvhou812]

The sad thing about this shit is, I think the GM meetings
is next Monday, Who the hell are the sox gonna send...

This came at a bad time