Theo Epstein Compensation Soon To Be Decided

The ball seems to finally be rolling on a resolution to the on-going Theo Epstein compensation between the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox. After months of the two teams going back and forth with proposals that varied from cash compensation to players such as shortstop Starlin Castro, starting pitcher Matt Garza, outfielder Tyler Colvin, or outfielder Brett Jackson. While Castro and Garza are not going to be a part of any compensation package that will be sent to the Red Sox, the consensus does seem to be that the Red Sox will receive at least one player from the Cubs’ 4o man roster. With recent reports of the Cubs potentially being forced to give up a significant player to the Red Sox, a player that is on the team’s 40 man roster may suffice.

The compensation issue is now in the hands of Major League commissioner Bud Selig. Selig has received proposals from both the Cubs’ side and the Red Sox, and recent reports suggest that Selig may be close to making a decision.

According to a report from the Chicago Sun Times ( using information from the Boston Globe, the Epstein compensation is nearing a resolution. The report states that Selig will conduct a meeting with representatives from the Cubs and Red Sox, and it is likely that both sides would leave that meeting with an agreement on the table. However, the report did not offer any additional information on the type of player the Cubs will be sending to the Boston Red Sox. While most fans may have been quick to judge the report from Nick Cafardo that suggested the Cubs would be giving up a significant player, I get the sense that the term “significant” was used loosely in Cafardo’s update on the Cubs and Red Sox negotiations over the Epstein compensation.

Scanning the Cubs’ active roster, I would say that pitchers Casey Coleman, Chris Carpenter, Randy Wells; infielders Darwin Barney, Josh Vitters; Junior Lake; and outfielders Matthew Szczur or Brett Jackson are all candidates to be the compensation player that will be rewarded to the Red Sox for allowing Epstein to join the Cubs’ front office. I would also included top pitching prospect Trey McNutt on that list as well. If the compensation player comes from the Cubs’ 25 man roster, than Barney, Coleman, or Carpenter may be the most likely candidates of all. After teetering back and forth over the past couple of days, I will stick with my original guess, and say that Vitters is going to be the compensation for Epstein.