Theo Epstein helped kill the Cubs' chances of landing Alex Bregman in free agency

Someday, Theo Epstein will be enshrined in Cooperstown for the critical role he played in ending not one, but two of the longest championship droughts in the history of professional sports. First, he put the Curse of the Bambino to bed in 2004, as a baby-faced exec calling the shots for the Boston Red Sox. A little over a decade later, his efforts with the Chicago Cubs made the Curse of the Billy Goat a thing of the past.

So, perhaps it's fate that Epstein played a role in how Alex Bregman's free agency journey ended - with a three-year, $120 million deal with Boston, leaving the Cubs and their three-year, $115 million pitch in the dust.

A new report lays out how Epstein, now a senior advisor to Boston's ownership group, worked with Craig Breslow - a man he hired who now runs baseball operations for the Red Sox - to consider all angles of the Bregman pursuit, as well as the intricacies of how a contract might look. Epstein also worked closely with him on their offer to superstar Juan Soto - so it's clear he's playing a trusted role for the Red Sox these days.

It's not like Epstein was the difference-maker here; the Cubs' continued refusal to open the coffers and spend like the big-market team they are decided where Bregman would spend the next chapter of his career. Boston got their guy, and Chicago will seemingly trust top prospect Matt Shaw with the third base job heading into the season, barring a disastrous showing in Cactus League action.

Epstein remains beloved amongst Cubs fans for his work during his time with the organization. We all probably look back on that time with particular fondness, given how things have gone since he left Chicago (a total of 0 postseason appearances and a 311-337 regular season record - not to mention next to no serious pursuits of top-tier free agents).

His knowledge and expertise clearly haven't waned in the five years since he left the organization and handed the keys to his longtime right-hand man, Jed Hoyer. It just feels poetic that he helped one of his former teams sink the other - although, like I said, the Cubs hardly need help in that department. They can sink on their own without much in terms of outside help.