Theo Epstein
From SoSH
Theo Epstein is the current general manager of the Red Sox. Epstein joined the Red Sox organization in 2002 as an assistant general manager and was promoted to general manager and senior vice president on November 25, 2002. Epstein's contract was allowed to expire on October 31, 2005. Jed Hoyer and Ben Cherington were appointed co-general managers on December 12, 2005. After an 86-day hiatus, Epstein returned to his position as general manager on January 24, 2006, with a promotion to executive vice president.
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Before Arriving in Boston
Epstein was born in New York City (December 29, 1973), but moved to Brookline, MA in 1978. He attended Lawrence Elementary School, Brookline High School, undergrad at Yale where he majored in American Studies and a law degree from University of San Diego. Epstein's start in baseball came in 1992 when he was hired, by current Red Sox vice president Charles Steinberg as a summer intern for the Baltimore Orioles. Epstein stayed in Baltimore for 3 summers and then took a full time job working for the San Diego Padres. In 1998 Epstein was promoted to a baseball operations assistant and two years later became Director of Baseball Operations. Epstein turned down a job as Assistant GM of the Toronto Blue Jays when offered by JP Riccardi because he wanted to be available in case there was a job in Boston, where mentor Larry Lucchino was now part owner.
The Dream Job
In November 2002, the Red Sox were looking for a new General Manager to replace the interm Mike Port. Lucchino, who had known Epstein since he was an intern in 1992, and the Red Sox hired Theo Epstein to become the new General Manager of the Boston Red Sox. At 28 years old he was the youngest GM in baseball history and now the GM of his hometown team that he grew up rooting for.
Epstein stated early in his time as GM that he wanted to turn the Red Sox into a "$100 million player development machine." The idea is that if you build from within, you are not forced to overspend for aging veterans and can always stay competitive. Epstein's first free agent class in 2003 brought in David Ortiz, Kevin Millar and Bill Mueller to name a few and the Sox prepared for their 2003 season. Theo took some time to chat about the team with SoSH prior to Spring Training.
Following the disappointing 2003 season where the Sox were 2 innings away from the World Series, Epstein made his largest move. Rumor was that the Arizona Diamondbacks were looking to move veteran pitcher and World Series MVP Curt Schilling. With Schilling being pursued hard by other teams Epstein made the negotiations personal. Epstein flew down the day before Thanksgiving, 2003 and attempted to convince Schilling to waive his no-trade clause and come to Boston. Epstein even had Thanksgiving dinner at the Schilling's house. Schilling ended up waiving his no trade clause in exchange for a two year extension.
The Turning Point
Epstein's tenure in Boston would be decided by his move at the trading deadline in 2004 when Epstein sent Matt Murton and All-Star Nomar Garciaparra to the Chicago Cubs and in return aquired Montreal Expos shortstop Orlando Cabrera and Twins first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz. Trading Garciaparra, a hometown favorite in Boston, for two .260 hitters was a risky move. If it had failed, it would have been disastrous for Epstein and the Sox. However, only three months later the Red Sox won their first World Championship since 1918. Epstein, the then youngest GM in baseball history, was now the GM of the World Series Champion Boston Red Sox.
Epstein's Hiatus
During the 2005 season there was buzz regarding Epstein's contract, which ended on October 31st and had not yet been renewed. The Sox front office made it clear that Epstein was going to stay in Boston and a contract would be signed. However, in the days before the contract was set to expire controversy in the Sox front office became local headlines. The Red Sox issued a blackout request from everyone inside the organization not to discuss the Epstein negotiations. The negotiations were to be kept completely private and only include Larry Lucchino and owner John Henry. It was rumored Epstein was ready to sign a 3 year extension which would be announced on October 31st and the front office would return to business as usual. Local muckraker and Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy wrote an article derived from information from an inside source in the Red Sox front office. The article's source appeared to be Lucchino and showed Epstein in a very negative light. In response Shaughnessy said he was only trying to get Larry's side out but Larry wasn't the source. Curt Schilling ripped the article and Shaughnessy on local talk radio WEEI that evening.
With trust issues at the forefront of the negotations, Epstein snuck out of Fenway Park in a gorilla suit on Halloween to avoid reporters and his tenure in Boston was over. John Henry personally took responsibility for the negotiation's failing, saying he never should have allowed it to get that far and he couldn't believe they screwed up this badly and let Epstein get away. Epstein claimed his departure was never about money but more about if he could dedicate himself fully to the job. Over the winter several teams made attempts to sign Epstein as their GM but nothing ever came out of it. The Red Sox moved ahead and announced co-General Managers Jed Hoyer and Ben Cherington but they were going to leave the light on for Epstein if he wanted to return. 86 days after Epstein's departure he was announced as the Red Sox Executive Vice President. Many contend Epstein never truly left and instead was still working with the club behind the scenes.
Out of the Park
Epstein's interest outside of baseball revolve around the music world. Epstein played guitar in the now defunct band Trauser. Their version of Neil Young's "Rockin' In the Free World", from the Hot Stove, Cool Music CD, can often be heard playing in Fenway Park between innings of Red Sox games. Epstein has also worked with Peter Gammons, Jeff Horrigan and the Boston music community to put on the Hot Stove, Cool Music benefit concert every January in Boston. In July, 2005 he initiated the Hot Stove Cool Music: The Fenway Sessions at Fenway Park to benefit the Foundation to Be Named Later, a youth-centered charity which he founded with his brother Paul. Epstein is also good friends with the band Pearl Jam and on May 26, 2006 took the stage and played Rockin in the Free World at their concert at the TD Banknorth Garden. When introducing Epstein, the band announced that he had matched the band's donation of $20,000 to a local homeless shelter.
Trivia
- Theo has a fraternal twin brother Paul.
- He is married to Marie Whitney.
- His grandfather, Philip Epstein, and great-uncle, Julius Epstein (also twin brothers), won the 1944 Academy Award for Best Screenplay (along with Howard Koch) for Casablanca
- His sister Anya is a television writer and producer - her credits include "Homicide: Life on the Street" and "Commander in Chief".
- His brother-in-law (Anya's husband) is actor/writer Dan Futterman. Dan earned an Academy Award nomination for writing the screenplay of Capote.
