If the Cubs aren't willing to give him up I'm sure Epstein has a say in it. If he didn't IMO he would already be gone. They're probably asking for a lot more than that.

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He was on a very short leash as far as pitch counts went this year. It was not uncommon for him to start a game and go 2 innings.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

This is getting annoying.

Yeah they say he had blister problems. Did they just pop up this year when he hit double A? Are they going to be a continuing problem? I could see not wanting to give him up if he were a potential ace but even the most optimistic scouting reports say middle of the rotation workhorse. Too many questions and not enough upside to prevent a deal for the savior of the organization.

Last thing the Cubs need is another guy with control problems.
Trade him for Epstein and some releiver off their 40 man.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

I think Boston is being difficult because their assholes frankly and to save face with their fanbase by "holding out" for top shelf compensation. Ricketts seems to be saying "fuck you" but keeping it out of the press so as not to enrage Boston.

Bottom line is a deal should get done before the World Series although with these assholes it may drag on until after the Series which would be a disgrace.

Give them a couple of their top 10-15 level prospects at best (which includes McNutt) but nothing more.

Fuck Boston.

By David Kaplan
CSNChicago.com

While most of Cubs nation is getting restless while the compensation negotiations drag on for the rights to current Boston Red Sox GM Theo Epstein, baseball sources have confirmed to me this afternoon that it does not appear a deal will be reached prior to the start of the World Series on Wednesday.

Epstein, who agreed to a five-year contract with the Cubs to head up their baseball operations department is still in Boston and is reporting for work every day until a resolution is reached. However, my sources tell me that the Cubs will not panic and overpay just to get a deal done. Instead, they are holding to their position that the Red Sox are entitled to a fair deal but not a major windfall from the Cubs system.

The Red Sox do not envision a scenario in which Epstein returns to their front office and remain confident that a deal can be struck that is satisfactory for both parties. The Cubs are also optimistic that a deal can be reached but they are prepared to wait until the compensation is more in line with their view and are not at all concerned about a timetable being met.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

I like the fact Ricketts hasn't been talking. My guess is Theo stays for a y e a r. Screw Larry. WCUB will find themselves shopping elsewhere.

He should just start acting unprofessionally so that they are forced to fire him....walk in and grab some secretary's ass...show up drunk...put a booger on John Henry's keyboard.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

George is driving his car in a circle in the parking lot. Trailing behind the
car, on a rope, is a trophy which bounces and clatters on the tarmac. George is
leaning out of the car window, with a megaphone.

GEORGE: Attention Steinbrenner and front-office morons! Your triumphs mean
nothing. You all stink. You can sit on it, and rotate! This is George Costanza.
I fear no reprisal. Extension five-one-seven-oh.

But if you want Epstein, you are going to have to give up a player of value. It appears Boston does not want money. One guy is not "gutting" the farm system and if one guy IS the farm system, then even further shame on the Cubs for letting the minors get to that point.

The more this drags along the more and more I think what is going to happen is this; Theo sits out 2012. He is paid by the Red Sox to stay home next season, then in 2013 he goes to the Cubs.

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If its still an issue after the World Series, ask Theo who he wants as an assistant and hire him to run the team next year.

Then Theo comes the year after and Boston gets dick.

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Just make Quade GM next year, too. But he cannot sign himself to an extension.

Then the Cubs likely don't get Epstein for 2012.

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I think Boston also has "leverage" in that they can win 95 games next year without Theo so their fans won't really care, whereas the Cubs will still suck.

Don't be so sure KDiddit. Big Papi might be gone. There is a mutual dislike between Ellsbury and everyone on the team but Lowrie. They have some horrible contracts. I could see the Red Sox making some drastic moves this off season and/or being one of those teams that tanks due to personal issues next year.

If you are the Cubs and letting McNutt get in the way of this deal you are foolish.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

You shouldn't let a nut get in the way of any deal.

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Anyone else can get Theo next year too. Sure, the odds are he's interested in the Cubs, but a year's a lot of time for other things to happen.

You also shouldn't overvalue prospects and not get a guy that could change the whole franchise.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

The Patriots gave up a 1st round pick for a head coach. At the time that was considered crazy. How did that turn out?

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Yeah its the Cubs they need to think outside the box to maybe win a championship this century.

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Waiting to next year is foolish. You get the guy now and worry about the rest later. If he's as good as many of us believe he is I would give up Garza.

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Consideriing the Red Sox just gave away Theo's job as GM and a big part of the job is scouting, making calls, connections, etc, prohibiting Theo from being to do that next year puts a serious dent into Theo's market value.

I think Theo might have some actionable issues here as well.

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

He's still under contract so I doubt it. They could make the guy clean toilets for a year.

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Can't he just resign or something? Forfeit his departure bonus and move on.

He can, but then Bsoton could stop him from going to work anywhere else.

It's exactly what they want him to do.

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

The Cubs are fucking insane not to pull that deal. I'll pack his bags for him and load the Mayflower truck for him.

I think you might have that wrong. He is hired to do a specific job and I am going to say Theo easily wins a Hostile work lawsuit if he is asked to do anything but his job as he has been doing so for the last 9 years.

The Red Sox fucked themselves on this deal and they know it. Allowing the Cubs to talk without defining compensation and then naming Theo's succesor.

Everyone thinks they can just send him home and pay him, but I don't think that is correct. They need a reason to send him home, based on something he did.

I think both sides realize that now and the Cubs are now just saying no to every prospect on the table.

Can Bsoton say the Cubs are being unreasonable, Yes. But they have no obligation at this point to be reasonable if they think Boston has to take whatever they give them.

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

Why do you think he can't just go back and work for the Red Sox again. He's done it before.