Cubs give Epstein 5 year extension.

[jimmer]

'"Obviously, Theo and the guys he brought with him five years ago took the organization down to the studs and started rebuilding," Ricketts said. "I give a lot of credit to Theo and Jed and everybody on that team, but I also give a lot of credit to all of our fans who basically heard our story, listened to us throughout. I think the time and energy to do it the right way has paid off with a team that should be successful for years to come."'

 

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/203881276/cubs-announce-extension-for-theo-epstein/

 

Good for him.  He's done great work.

[Vanimal46]

He's been worth every penny so far. If they win the World Series, might as well scratch off the years and write lifetime contract instead.

[wsnydes]

This is a similar approach to what the Twins should be looking at.  It'll take some patience, and it'll take a little bit of time, but there is a formula to follow.  Those guys earned that extension.  Good for them...this is coming from a Cardinals fan.

[Willihammer]

The Twins have been in a de facto rebuild since they started drafting in the top 10 5 years ago. A half assed one maybe, but the farm is a top ranked one. They should not be tearing down to the studs as per a multi-year rebuild at this point.

[Willihammer]

Anyways, to the point of the thread, 5 years seems like a long time to give him IMO. Obviously he has done a good job so far but the game can change fast.

[wsnydes]

 

The Twins have been in a de facto rebuild since they started drafting in the top 10 5 years ago. A half assed one maybe, but the farm is a top ranked one. They should not be tearing down to the studs as per a multi-year rebuild at this point.

To some extent that is true, but the pitching staff needs to be almost completely rebuilt.  That isn't going to happen in one offseason.  In my view, down to the studs isn't exclusive to the players.  The coaching staff needs to be overhauled and the front office will have some turnover.  It shouldn't take as long here as it did in Chicago however.  As you said, there are many pieces in place, but whether they pan out remains to be seen as well.

 

[Loosey]

 

The Twins have been in a de facto rebuild since they started drafting in the top 10 5 years ago. A half assed one maybe, but the farm is a top ranked one. They should not be tearing down to the studs as per a multi-year rebuild at this point.

They should have tore it down to the studs after 2011.  Instead they considered that year a fluke and patched worked it back together, unsuccessfully.  So in 2013 when they really knew the prior 2 years weren't abberations, they should have gone to work, instead they went with status quo, then signed expensive middle of the road rotation pieces and made very few moves to make the team better outside of drafting.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Anyways, to the point of the thread, 5 years seems like a long time to give him IMO. Obviously he has done a good job so far but the game can change fast.

If you're not willing to give Epstein a 5 year contract in these circumstances, with his overall record, you are pretty much never willing to give a 5 year contract to anyone, ever.

[Willihammer]

 

They should have tore it down to the studs after 2011.  Instead they considered that year a fluke and patched worked it back together, unsuccessfully.  So in 2013 when they really knew the prior 2 years weren't abberations, they should have gone to work, instead they went with status quo, then signed expensive middle of the road rotation pieces and made very few moves to make the team better outside of drafting.

None of those veteran signings costed a top ten pick. The thing about losing a lot and never trading prospects is that they stockpiled a bunch of prospects and are about to get 1-1. So the situation is very different now and moves that might have been appropriate then don't necessarily make sense now.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Hoyer and McLeod both got 5 year deals too:

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/09/cubs-sign-theo-epstein-to-five-year-extension.html

 

I wonder what bearing this had on McLeod's interview here in Minnesota...

[USAFChief]

I view this as a preemptive strike by the Cubs to prevent him from pursuing the Twins job.

[Mr. Brooks]

The Twins have been in a de facto rebuild since they started drafting in the top 10 5 years ago. A half assed one maybe, but the farm is a top ranked one. They should not be tearing down to the studs as per a multi-year rebuild at this point.

I don't think the Twins are going to have a top ranked farm anymore after graduating a bunch of guys.

For example Sickels has only 1 Twin in the top 80.

Of course, the 1-1 will help, but I'd expect them to rank around 19 to 21 or so until then.

[TheLeviathan]

Clearly well earned.