Notes AL: Epstein, Red Sox, Royals, Twins, Duffey

With the Red Sox In search of a new leader for his baseball department and Cubs in free fall mode, Alex Speier of the Boston Globe pleads for a meeting with Theo Epstein-Sox. Epstein, president of the Cubs' baseball operations, served as the 2002 Red Sox general manager when he left for Chicago in 2011. The Cubs have been a determining influence on the majority of Epstein's tenure in this region. . club, there is no indication that he is interested in leaving. Epstein is under contract until 2021 for the expansion of the record that he signed with the Cubs in 2016. Nevertheless, the Red SoxI do not want to see if they have a chance to lose one of the biggest fish in the management team, "says Speier, and Epstein would certainly qualify.

• The next person to take the lead in Boston may have a decision for the right-hander Rick Porcellowho must become a free agent. However, in all likelihood, Porcello will reach the free market after a difficult season. Former AL Cy Young winner spoke to Rob Bradford of WEEI about his upcoming free agency trip in these terms: "You know my situation. You know where I'm headed. I have no idea what will happen. We'll see. Until you get to a dead season and see what's going to be there for you, you do not really know what's going to affect you. " Porcello, which turns 31 in December, completes Boston's $ 82.5 million extension to its four-year acquisition when it acquired Detroit in 2015. For the most part, the deal worked for the Red Sox. It has not been to the taste of both parties this year. Porcello has the second highest average of the game's shares (5.56) among qualified players.
• Retired Ned Yost is in his last days as Royals General Manager, but it seems like it will be several weeks before the club finds his replacement. The Royals are not planning to hire Yost's successor before David Glass's upcoming sale to John Sherman, according to General Manager Dayton Moore (via The Associated Press). The franchise might not change hands until November, the AP points out. "I would never hire a manager … without the full support of my 100% boss", Moore said.
• twins right-handed Tyler Duffey It's somewhat transformed into an elite picker over the course of the season. The 28-year-old has not earned a deserved run since July 23 – a 22 1/3 innings in which he took out 22, did not work and did not six hits. Star Tribune's Chip Scoggins attributes Minnesota front-office and Wes Johnson pitcher's data-centric approach to the rise of Duffey, who has a 2.26 BBM with 12.61 K / 9 and 2.26 BB / 9 in 55 2/3 for the year. Under the encouragement of Johnson and Assistant Throw Coach Jeremy Hefner, Duffey has everything but put his bag in place – once his main throw – and focused on raising his fast four-sided ball . Duffey told Scoggins that he had taken part in the radical shift in approach "From day 1." The results, including an acceleration in speed and a dramatic increase in the oscillating strike rate, are undeniable.