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The Chicago Cubs announced Tuesday that Theo Epstein will resign as president of the team’s baseball operations. Epstein’s last day with the Cubs will be Friday. The Cubs have announced that general manager Jed Hoyer will replace Epstein, whose five-year contract with the Cubs is set to expire after the 2021 season.
Epstein, 46, spent nine seasons with the Cubs and led the franchise to the 2016 World Series title – Chicago’s first in 108 years.
“For the rest of my life, I will cherish being a part of the great Chicago Cubs organization during this historic time,” Epstein said in a press release. “All the things that made this experience so special – the fans, the players, the managers and coaches, the property, my front office colleagues, the uniqueness of the Wrigley experience, the history – make it so difficult to leave the Cubs. But I believe it is the right decision for me, even if it is difficult, and now is the right time rather than a year from now.
“The organization faces a number of decisions this winter that have long-term consequences. These types of decisions are better made by someone who will stay here for a long time rather than a year longer. Jed deserved this opportunity and is absolutely the right person to take over this baseball operation at such an important time. “
At 46, Epstein is certainly in a position to engage in a new challenge in baseball (or elsewhere), but it looks like it won’t happen until after 2021. According to Jon Morosi of MLB Network, Epstein will take over the 2021 Major League Baseball season. He will not pursue open general manager positions with the New York Mets or the Philadelphia Phillies.
Epstein oversaw the top-to-bottom rebuilding of the Cubs that saw Chicago win this 2016 championship. He was instrumental in transforming Cubs culture, as he did during his 10 years with the Reds. Boston Sox before landing at Wrigley Field. He also achieved a full turnaround for Boston. Epstein oversaw the Red Sox as they ended their 86-year championship drought in 2004 and 2007, when Boston won another ring.
When Epstein left the Red Sox, he explained that the move was in part due to a philosophy he picked up from longtime 49ers coach Bill Walsh. Walsh believed that coaches and executives enjoyed a change of scenery every decade. In that sense, Epstein’s departure from the Cubs comes at the right time.
In a letter to friends, Epstein said he plans to spend time with his family and work with nonprofits while he is away from baseball, by Jeff Passan from ESPN. “I plan to have a third chapter running a baseball organization someday, although I don’t expect it to be next year,” Epstein wrote in the letter. .
Former Marlins executive David Samson broke the news of Epstein in a bonus episode of Nothing Personal with David Samson. Listen below:
The Cubs finished the abridged 2020 season as champions of the NL Central with a 34-26 record, but were eliminated from the postseason, dropping both games of their best-of-three series against the Miami Marlins. during the Wild Card Round. Since winning a championship in 2016, the Cubs have slowly regressed from their contender status and haven’t won a postseason game since 2017. CBS Sports’ Matt Snyder explained why the early playoff exit This year’s playoff signals the end of the road for the Cubs’ core group. won the 2016 World Series.
Hoyer is Epstein’s longtime friend and colleague in Chicago and Boston, and said he was “thrilled” to lead the Cubs in the future.
“I thank the Ricketts family for giving me the opportunity to lead the Cubs baseball operation,” Hoyer said in the statement. “Over the past nine years, I have worked alongside so many dedicated colleagues with one goal in mind: to build a team and an organization that makes Cubs fans proud and provides them with memories of a lifetime. I am delighted that this leadership transition will provide continuity for a department that has seen tremendous success over the past six seasons. Ultimately, this transition is about the future, and I look forward to constantly pushing the Cubs to evolve and grow to ensure lasting success at Wrigley Field. ”
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