Boston Red Sox Wiretap

Theo Leaves Sox

Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein resigned Monday, surprising Boston and the baseball world just one year after he helped build the franchise's first World Series championship team since 1918.

The team said in a statement that Epstein will continue working for several days to assist in the transition and prepare for the offseason.

The Boston Herald, which first reported the news on its web site, said the Yale graduate has told associates that he may leave baseball, or at least take a year off.

The Dodgers, Phillies and Devil Rays have GM openings, but none has a $120 million payroll to match the one Epstein was given in Boston.

The 31-year-old Epstein was reportedly offered about $4.5 million for a three-year extension -- quadruple his previous salary. But it was still short of the $2.5 million a year the Red Sox offered Oakland's Billy Beane in 2002 before making Epstein the youngest GM in baseball history.

Via AP

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Angels Emerge As Favorite For Manny

The Los Angeles Angels appear to be the likeliest partner if/when the Sox explore dealing unhappy slugger Manny Ramirez, who again has asked out of Boston. Ramirez representative Geno Mato told Sox owner John W. Henry Friday that Ramirez wants to be dealt and will not report to spring training if he remains a member of the Red Sox.

The Sox' foremost need is pitching, and any conversation with the Angels is expected to begin with the Sox asking about 22-year-old Ervin Santana, the righthander who went 12-8 with a 4.65 ERA as a rookie. Los Angeles is looking to unload salary, specifically 40-year-old center fielder Steve Finley ($7 million in 2006) and 31-year-old Darin Erstad ($8.5 million).

The Sox aren't likely to touch Finley, but they might be willing to absorb Erstad's salary, given that he could play first base or center field.

Ramirez, during an August visit to play the Angels, confided in a veteran teammate how much he liked Anaheim. Ramirez remarked that no one bothered him during a visit to a local mall. The teammate explained the lack of fan pestering by telling Ramirez that if he played in Southern California he might be making $20 million a year, but his next-door neighbor would be making $25 million.

Via Boston Globe

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Three More Years With Theo

Theo Epstein's contract expires tonight at midnight, but the 31-year-old general manager won't be looking for a new place to work for at least three more seasons. Epstein and the Red Sox have agreed to an extension of that length, keeping the Brookline native in place as the team's GM through the 2008 season, according to multiple major league sources.

It is believed that Epstein, who made $350,000 last season, ranking him near the bottom of baseball's GM pay scale, will have the chance to make close to what he was seeking ($1.5 million per year). That would position him among baseball's best-compensated general managers.

When the most recent round of negotiations began, Epstein received an initial offer of about $850,000 per year and a second offer of $1.2 million per year, both of which he rejected.

Via Boston Globe

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Timlin And Sox Come To Terms

Over the course of the last three seasons, no Red Sox reliever has been more dependable than Mike Timlin. Fortunately for the Sox, they won't be forced to find out what life is like without Timlin in 2006. Though the deal won't be officially announced until Timlin passes a physical -- likely on Wednesday in Boston -- the two sides have agreed to terms on a one-year deal.

"I've already been talking to Theo [Epstein]. We've pretty much agreed to a deal already," Timlin said in an interview with MLB Radio on Friday. "If the deal falls through, if Major League Baseball doesn't approve it, we'll go on from there. But I enjoy playing in Boston -- the fans there are unbelievable. I've had some great success there in my latter years, so to speak. I don't want to really end up anywhere else."

Timlin doesn't even think he'll go through the formality of filing for free agency, as four of his Red Sox teammates already have done.

"I'm pretty satisfied we've done everything," said Timlin. "We've got everything taken care of. I'm going to head up to Boston and see if it all goes through on, I think, Wednesday. We'll go from there."

Via MLB.com

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Lawrence Could Come To Boston For Wells

If it's up to Theo Epstein in Boston and Kevin Towers in San Diego, David Wells will get his wish to play in Southern California. According to a San Diego source, the Padres have missed Wells's leadership, and they appear willing to package something for the 42-year-old lefthander that would satisfy the Sox.

The Padres may part with righthanded starter Brian Lawrence or set-up man Akinori Otsuka or both, but not starter Adam Eaton, who would be more coveted by the Sox.

Lawrence, who will earn $3.5 million next season, had a poor 2005 season -- 7-15, with a 4.83 ERA -- but he has made 31-34 starts each of the last four seasons. Otsuka, who has a $1.75 million option for '06, was 2-8 with a 3.59 ERA and blew six of his seven save opportunities, but he's been a workhorse with 139 appearances the last two seasons.

Via Boston Globe

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