Theo Epstein is back with the Red Sox and Fenway Sports Group; what does that truly mean for the team?
The Red Sox made a massive move on Friday by announcing the news that Theo Epstein is returning as a senior advisor to Fenway Sports Group and part-owner of the team.
Epstein will return to the same organization that he helped architect two World Series championships and set up processes in place for scouting, drafting and player development.
While fans are giddy over the idea that Epstein is back in Boston, it should be noted he will have responsibilities overseeing the other parts of the FSG portfolio. He is currently working as a consultant in hiring the next manager of Liverpool’s soccer team. FSG has begun the search to replace Jurgen Klopp, who was with Liverpool since 2015.
Red Sox fans admittedly don’t care about Liverpool, the Penguins or the PGA responsibilities that Epstein will have now that he’s back. Fans want to know how he will help impact the Red Sox organization moving forward.
MassLive’s Chris Cotillo and Sean McAdam reported that the Red Sox acknowledged that Epstein’s return to help focus on processes for the organization and FSG.
“According to people with an understanding of the arrangement between Epstein and the Red Sox, he was brought back into the fold, at least in part, due to Red Sox ownership privately acknowledging that they have, at times, not given the club the attention it has deserved in recent years as the FSG portfolio has rapidly grown,” wrote Cotillo and McAdam.
Epstein is expected to have involvement in all of FSG’s properties as noted above and he will be “re-instituting processes and lines of communication that made the Red Sox so successful during his tenure as general manager from 2003 to 2011,” reported MassLive.
After three of the last four years of finishing in last place and public perception that John Henry and Tom Werner seemingly only care about lining their pockets and not fielding a successful baseball operation, there seems to be a refocus internally on the Red Sox side of the FSG portfolio.
Epstein is thrilled and honored to be back with FSG and the former general manager’s longterm priorities are to be an owner of a professional baseball team. Epstein believes his experience and credibility as a front office titan and his new global responsibilities at FSG will help fast track him to the next phase and goal of his career.
“I am thrilled and honored to return to FSG,” Epstein said in a news release. “This is truly a unique opportunity for me — a chance to partner with people who mean a lot to me; a chance to challenge myself in new arenas; and a chance to use my experience and perspective to help others succeed and win at the highest level.
“FSG is a dynamic, groundbreaking organization with an incredible track record of accomplishment across sports. The special connection I feel toward this organization and the ownership group has stayed with me through the years. I am proud and humbled to return as a minority owner and adviser. In this role, I will not be the one making decisions; rather, I’ll be the one asking questions, offering opinions, building trust, and supporting the terrific people at FSG to help us reach new heights.”
Let’s circle back at the matter at hand, Red Sox fans only care about how Epstein will impact the organization moving forward.
Epstein is expected to work mostly out of his Connecticut home and he will not be making decisions for the club like he did as a general manager. MassLive also reported he will not be “intimately involved in day-to-day operations.”
Epstein’s role is be more operational and process-oriented and he will be able to peel back the onion on the whole organization and be a voice in the room on numerous business matters.
“In this role, I will not be the one making decisions; rather, I’ll be the one asking questions, offering opinions, building trust and supporting the terrific people at FSG to help us reach new heights,” said Epstein.
Since Boston fired Chaim Bloom, the organization has focused on numerous off-stage moves in hiring Justin Willard as the director of player development and Driveline’s Kyle Boddy as a consultant. In addition, Andrew Bailey was added as the pitching coach and numerous other changes were made from a pitching perspective at the Triple-A level on down. Craig Breslow as the new chief baseball officer seemed like a stretch at first when he was hired. The Red Sox struggled to find candidates to want the job.
Epstein hired Breslow when he was in Chicago and has the confidence in him running the baseball operations side.
“I’m a full believer in him and what he and his team are going to mean for the Red Sox,” Epstein said of Breslow to Sportico.
Epstein will serve as a “sounding board and executive coach” to the Red Sox baseball operations staff.
With Epstein back in the fold, the Red Sox finally feel like they have an identity again after years of lackluster play on the field and lack of spending on high profile free agents. The 50-year-old’s reunion in Boston doesn’t mean they’ll instantly shift gears and spend in free agency, but it should offer fans optimism that there’s someone in the fold with the cache to push back with Henry. It’ll take time, but Red Sox fans should see a shift in change with the Red Sox, or at least that’s the hope.
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