BOSTON — Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein “is on the cusp” of joining the Chicago Cubs, the Boston Herald reported Tuesday.
The Cubs fired general manager Jim Hendry on Aug. 19 and finished 71-91. They have been pursuing Epstein, who just finished his ninth season with Boston. The Red Sox missed the playoffs following a record collapse, going 7-20 in September.
Epstein would be going to a Cubs franchise that hasn’t won the World Series since 1908. Boston hadn’t won a championship since 1918 until doing it in 2004, Epstein’s second year as general manager. The Red Sox also won it all in 2007.
Epstein has one year left on his contract with the Red Sox. There was no word on whether they were asking for compensation from the Cubs.
Going nuts for squirrel
ST. LOUIS — Tony La Russa and the Cardinals are going nuts for the Rally Squirrel.
The team plans to distribute 40,000 rally towels with a squirrel motif for Game 3 of the NL Championship Series tonight against the Brewers. In addition, stuffed Rally Squirrels are available for $5 at the Busch Stadium team store, along with “Got Squirrel” T-shirts and additional rally towels.
“I think it’s good. The fans are having fun,” La Russa said.
It all started during the division series against the Phillies when a squirrel, or squirrels, was seen scampering around the field — in both cities.
La Russa has suggested the squirrel, or squirrels, was dating utility man Allen Craig’s pet tortoise, Torty, and that the squirrel was looking for Torty when it scooted past home plate just as Phillies right-hander Roy Oswalt made a pitch to Skip Schumaker.
Craig denies involvement.
“I have no idea, I swear,” Craig said.
Young out of Tigers lineup
DETROIT — Tigers outfielder Delmon Young (oblique) was scratched from the starting lineup for Detroit’s game against the Rangers.
Andy Dirks replaced Young in right field and batted ninth.
Footnotes.
Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins, the 2007 NL MVP and three-time all-star heading into free agency, said he looks “good in red” and wants to return to Philadelphia with a five-year contract.
• The Brewers will wear special “GV” patches on their uniforms for the rest of the postseason to honor groundskeeper Gary VandenBerg, who died Monday night after a long illness. He was 59.
• Pirates pitcher Charlie Morton will be out about six months after having hip surgery.
The Associated Press
