The Red Sox have an opportunity to bring Theo Epstein back home in some sort of front office capacity.
Theo Epstein’s tenure with the Chicago Cubs has come to an abrupt end with the news he is resigning from his post. He showed up in Chicago, engineered a rebuild, and won a World Series in 2016. Ending a painfully long championship drought appears to be his specialty after he helped do the same for the Boston Red Sox.
Epstein made a name for himself with the Red Sox and had an interesting time there as he walked away at one point, only to return soon after. He then left for good during a tough 2011 season to run the Cubs.
The Red Sox did not suddenly become awful once Epstein left. The team won the World Series in 2013 and 2018. But high expectations surround that franchise and after two straight seasons without October baseball there is a chance to bring Epstein home and form a supergroup in the front office.
Red Sox can bring Theo Epstein back home
Epstein famously grew up right near Fenway Park and was the hometown wunderkind who ended the team’s title drought. There was some drama along the way, but two titles in four seasons is tough to complain about.
The Red Sox now have another young executive in Chaim Bloom running baseball operations. Why not add Epstein’s intelligence to the group in a role where he and Bloom don’t clash?
Epstein revealed he doesn’t foresee himself working in baseball next summer. Perhaps one option is to have him serve as an advisor for the Red Sox without having to show up to the ballpark on a daily basis.
Epstein is going to get plenty of calls and the New York Mets may even try to snatch him up as soon as possible. The Red Sox have familiarity as an advantage and both sides can swallow some pride and realize Boston is where Epstein belongs.
Time is on Epstein’s side as he is still only 46 years old. He can take a few years off and his stock is never going to drop. Getting him back in Boston in any role would be a boost for the franchise, even if he decides he wants to leave and take on another challenge later on.
He has advanced beyond being a general manager and the organization can carve out a new role for one of the most valuable executives in the game.