Entering the final year of his contract with the Chicago Cubs — and his 10th overall with the team — president of baseball operations Theo Epstein reiterated his longstanding belief that about a decade of service time for an organization might be enough for him.
“For me, as an individual, there is benefit for change, after a significant amount of time on the job,” he said on Monday, days after his team was eliminated from the postseason. “I have to keep that in mind without making any definitive statements.
“I’m not going to run away from those feelings but I’m also as invested in the Chicago Cubs as I was at any point in the last nine years.”cheap nfl nike jersey
Epstein spoke several times in a conference call with reporters about a transition of power. The next 12 months are likely to include that transition, though he says a successor hasn’t been discussed yet.
When asked whether his role with the team could change in 2021, Epstein said: “My expectation and Tom’s [Ricketts] expectation is that means status quo, for now, as we go into 2021. But the status quo that is mindful of the importance of transition planning. … If adjustments in structure or role or timing are necessary to put the Cubs in the best possible position going forward, then that’s what I want. We all feel the most likely outcome is status quo.”
So in other words, Epstein will likely continue to be the decision maker but with an eye on the future more than ever. His longtime lieutenant and current general manager, Jed Hoyer, could be in line to succeed him.china nike nfl jerseys cheap
“Jed is someone who’s been a huge part of the success here at the Cubs,” Epstein said. “He’s also someone that has been a successful No. 1 in baseball operations [in San Diego].”
Epstein’s timeline could follow a similar path to that of his days as an executive for the Boston Red Sox, where he spent about a decade before signing on with the Cubs. After winning the World Series with the Cubs in 2016, he signed a new deal that runs out after next season.
“It means you have to be smart in discussing the timing and nature of a transition because it’s inevitable at some point,” Epstein said.
The team that Epstein will hand over to his successor is also in a transition period, despite winning their third division title in five seasons. The Cubs have now played meaningful September games for six consecutive years, but have come up woefully short at the plate over the last three of them.
“The thing that we were not proud of was our offensive production, following the pattern of the last three years, especially when it counted the most down the stretch and into October,” Epstein said.
The Cubs scored one run in getting swept by the Miami Marlins in the wild-card round last week at Wrigley Field after producing the lowest franchise batting average at home during the regular season.
