Theo Epstein

The new Cubs President of Baseball Operations is Theo Epstein. With him a new era for the Chicago Cubs begin. Tom Ricketts took his time and did his research in finding him to reorganize the entire franchise.

The way the team will operate and their approach has changed with new owner Tom Ricketts and the hiring of Theo Epstein. Epstein made a reputation for himself with the Boston Red Sox and built a winning organization that went on to win the World Series in 2004. This was their first World Series championship since 1918. Epstein was hired to do the same thing for the Cubs who have not won since 1908.

Theo Epstein was born December 29, 1973. He was the youngest GM in the league at age 28 when Boston hired him in 2002. He graduated from Yale University in 1995. He went on to work for the San Diego Padres in the PR department and later the team's Director of Baseball Operations. While there he attended the University of San Diego School of Law and earned his law degree. Tom Ricketts fired Jim Hendry and started his search to change the way the Chicago Cubs ran their operations. Theo Epstein was not hired as a General Manager but as President of Baseball Operations.

Baseball has entered a new era with the way teams are approaching the game. It started with Billy Beane in Oakland (MoneyBall) with the evaluation of players. New ways of statistics and scouting are being used and it needs young executives to make this work.

Theo Epstein will also revamp the mediocre minor league system the Cubs have and start the program of building from the bottom up as compared to the signing free agents and spending a lot of money and not winning.

Epstein's first order of business was to hire a new manager. And that would be Dale Sveum.

The Cubs owed the Boston Red Sox a quality player in exchange for the Cubs to hire Theo Epstein since he was still under contract with the Red Sox. Deciding the player became an issue and MLB was going to get involved. But before that happened the teams reached a compromise in Chris Carpenter, a tall right handed pitching prospect.

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