Theo Epstein Compensation: Decision Could be Made This Week

Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com is reporting that the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs have submitted briefs regarding the Theo Epstein compensation.  While the situation has been dragging out for most of the offseason, Heyman now feels that a decision regarding what compensation will be sent to the Red Sox could be decided sometime this week.

From the startof the Epstein negotiations, it didn’t seem as if the Cubs and Red Sox would be able to reach a conclusion on their own.  Boston heard the Cubs say they would be willing to surrender significant return in exchange for Epstein tearing up the final year of his contract and bolting for Wrigley.

But what is significant return?  The sides involved were unable to reach an agreement as to what this term meant, so the decision was ultimately passed on to Major League Baseball and its commissioner, Bud Selig.

Two weeks ago Selig said he hoped to have the case resolved as soon as possible.  While he was said to have received a list of players from each club that were to be discussed as compensation for Theo, there was apparently another piece of paperwork he’s been waiting on.

According to Heyman, Selig and Major League Baseball now have their collective hands on these “briefs”, so you would assume they’d be able to move forward and issue a decree.  It’s hard to say, though, as it appeared we were in this position at the beginning of the month.

While names have been tossed around as far as who will be sent to Boston in exchange for Theo, some speculate that Selig will decide in favor of the Red Sox.  They say Selig will try and make a statement by choosing a significant player from the Cubs in an effort to dissuade others teams from following suit and ‘trading’ front office members.

So, who do you think will be shipped out of the Windy City, and could anyone sent from the Cubs really be as valuable as Epstein himself?

For more on the Red Sox and Cubs, be sure to check out BoSox Injection and Cubbies Crib.

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