Theo's back — but is that good?
Return to Boston as G.M. brings up more questions in weird soap opera
Charles Krupa / APThe Boston Red Sox announced Thursday that former GM Theo Epstein will rejoin the organization in a full-time capacity.
ASK THE BASEBALL EXPERT
By Tony DeMarco
NBCSports.com contributor
updated 4:02 p.m. ET Jan. 25, 2006
 | Tony DeMarco |
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So Theo is back, and Red Sox Nation is rejoicing. But should it be? There are too many unanswered questions and lingering subplots to say for certain at this point.
That’s not what the club’s press releases say, of course. If you buy their spin, the idea of a power struggle between CEO Larry Lucchino and former and current vice president/general manager Theo Epstein was “simple mythology” in the words of owner John Henry.
Of course, included in the same memo is, “this isn’t the same organization that Theo left. There was enough discord then to give Theo legitimate reason to move on,” as well as other admissions of disagreements between Lucchino and Epstein. And after this chain of events in an ongoing calamity where nobody has come out looking good, a little skepticism hardly seems inappropriate:
Coming off the club’s first championship in 86 years, Henry and Lucchino mistakenly let Epstein’s unsettled contract situation drag on for an entire year, when it should have been addressed in the title’s afterglow.
When a $4-million-a-year offer finally comes his way, Epstein surprisingly turns it down, apparently because of disagreements with Lucchino over philosophy and level of autonomy. Instead of staying in a dream job he was given at age 28, and bringing a championship in just two years, he resigns on Halloween. And in a sophomoric move, he leaves Fenway Park in a gorilla suit to avoid the media.
The Lucchino-led search for a replacement involves a handful of interviews, and a few second interviews, and settles on former Orioles GM Jim Beattie as Epstein’s successor — only to have Henry reject that. All the while, Epstein continues communicating with Henry, as well as his closest allies in the organization — not willing to entirely cut the cord.
Even with the promotions of Jed Hoyer and Ben Cherington to co-GMs, the rumors of Epstein’s return wouldn’t go away, and Epstein even reportedly made calls to other teams’ executive on the Red Sox’s behalf in the days leading up to last Thursday’s night murky announcement of his return in an undisclosed full-time front-office capacity, which they revealed Tuesday to be back at full-time general manager. The salary and length of contract are still to be determined.
Chaotic, unorganized, back-stabbing, or all of the above — take your pick. And now they expect us to believe all is well — but won’t even hold a press conference to say so publicly?
With Epstein right back where he started, two possible scenarios could unfold: Either he and Lucchino truly have carved out a workable truce, or Epstein has won out, and it’s only a matter of time before Lucchino moves on, maybe to the next organization trying to get a stadium built – one of his specialties. Only time will tell.
But surprisingly, for all the disarray at the top — as well as the distraction of Manny Ramirez’s trade demand — what has happened to the roster this winter may very well have occurred had Epstein not gone anywhere. This is a team in transition, one in need of retooling with younger talent, even if it takes a year of slipping back toward the .500 mark, and maybe being passed in the standings by the financially enhanced Toronto Blue Jays.
With Curt Schilling a health concern at 39, and Tim Wakefield and David Wells both 42, the Sox had to get a young ace to build around, and did so by capitalizing on the Marlins’ financial woes and trading top prospects Hanley Ramirez and Anibal Sanchez for Josh Beckett, Mike Lowell and Guillermo Mota. With Jonathan Papelbon expected to be part of the rotation, and Jon Lester probably coming later this season, an influx of quality young arms should occur over the course of this season.
With closer Keith Foulke’s effectiveness an ongoing issue and setup man Mike Timlin at 39, the bullpen had to be restocked, and they added Mota, Julian Tavarez and Rudy Seanez, giving Manny Delcarman and Craig Hansen time to develop.
They sent away Edgar Renteria, convinced he wasn’t going to make the adjustment to the Boston fishbowl, and chose not to bring back Kevin Millar, Bill Mueller and Doug Mirabelli, three mid-30s parts of the title team.
We don’t know if Epstein’s presence could have kept Johnny Damon in Boston, or if the organization would have held tight on its $40 million offer. We do know that holes at shortstop and center field remain, and if Epstein’s desire to get younger and more athletic takes hold, look for impending moves to reflect that.
A proposed deal that would bring Coco Crisp to Boston as Damon’s replacement for Mota and Marte is in doubt due to Mota failing an Indians physical. But the sides are discussing other ways to get a deal done. Free agent Alex Gonzalez is expected to be signed to play shortstop.
But just iron out the delineations of power, get past this silly soap opera and move on before it causes any long-term damage to the organization.
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