[ad_1]
For the first time since 2014, the Cubs will not qualify for the playoffs. They were in the driver's seat for a playoff spot for most of the season, but the September collapse sent the club to an extremely disappointing end to the game. The Cubs' late disappearance will not, however, lead baseball president Theo Epstein to leave the organization.
Epstein refuted Wednesday any hypothesis going in the opposite direction, saying (via Jesse Rogers of ESPNChicago.com): "I am here [with the Cubs]. We have a lot of work that we need to work on to get back to the level we are used to. I am invested in that. That's what I focus on. "
Epstein added that the idea of "Wake up and try to form the next Cubs championship team" always excites him. Architect of the team that won the Chicago title in 2016, Epstein has been a resounding success since his resignation from the position of General Manager of Boston in 2011 to lead the Cubs. However, thanks to the unfortunate end of the Cubs season and the need for a new leader in their baseball department, the Red Sox have hung a possible rumor about a possible meeting between Epstein and Boston. If we are to believe Epstein, the Red Sox will have to find Dave Dombrowski's replacement elsewhere.
As things stand, there are still two seasons left for Epstein for the $ 50 million extension he signed with the Cubs in September 2016. Although Epstein's immediate future in Chicago is assured, he The same goes for a good composition this year. He and the other members of his front-office cohort will spend the next few months trying to build a team that will not fall apart in times of crisis, which could result in significant turnover during the off-season. Even the championship director, Joe Maddon, may not be safe. Maddon said he wanted to lead the team for a sixth season in 2020, although he has no contract beyond this year. Epstein refused to reveal when he will decide Maddon's future, according to Rogers.
Whether or not Maddon returns next season, he will likely have none of the top two players in the Cubs – third base player / base player Kris Bryant or short stop Javier Baez – for the rest of 2019. Maddon said Wednesday (via Tony Andracki from NBC Sports Chcago) that it is unlikely that we will return until next season. Bryant is missing since he's sprained his right ankle last Sunday, while Baez has only taken two kicks this month (none since last Saturday) after suffering a fracture from the scalp to the left thumb. Epstein & Co. will be concerned about the future of both players during the winter, while Bryant and Baez must each submit to arbitration for the penultimate time.
[ad_2]
Source link