Epstein and Hoyer Met with Mike Quade for Seven(!) Hours and Other Bullets

New General Manager Jed Hoyer and Scouting/Development Chief (that’s a title I’m using, not his actual title – the actual title is too long and abstract) Jason McLeod will be introduced at a press conference today at 3pm CT. I’ll be covering the press conference live here, but if you’d like to watch, it should be on CSN and CSNChicago.com, at a minimum. It won’t be quite the national media event that the Theo Epstein press conference was, but it should be revealing nonetheless.

  • According to Bruce Levine, when Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer met with Mike Quade about his past and future with the Chicago Cubs last week, they met for seven hours. Yes, there’s something to be said for being thorough and polite, but seven hours ain’t just thorough and polite. It suggests minds had not yet been made up. It suggests things are genuinely being considered. Scary things.
  • Ok, and now I’ll back myself – and you – down from the ledge. Keep in mind, even if Epstein and Hoyer had already decided to can Quade, they’d want to talk to him about what went right/wrong, certain players, etc. for quite a while. Exit interviews exist for a reason, and sometimes they’re quite long. Jim Hendry stayed on to help the Cubs for a month after he’d been told he was being let go. Seven hours, in that context, is nothing. Perhaps the second meeting with Quade this week will be a five minute “thanks for the service and last week’s chat. Farewell.”
  • Former Cubs manager Lou Piniella, the man who retired mid-season, giving Quade the chance to prove his mettal as an interim manager, says he hopes the new Cubs’ brass gives Quade a chance.
  • Today is the Theo Epstein compensation talks deadline, as set by Commissioner Bud Selig. Red Sox GM Ben Cherington says he and Epstein have had a hard time coming to an agreement on just what the latter is worth. That’s gotta be a fun conversation for Epstein with his former lieutenant (“No, seriously, dude – it turns out, I’m pretty awful at what I do. Sucks for you that I taught you everything I know.”). The two sides will talk again today, but the matter is expected to be turned over to Selig by the end of the day. The two sides will, at some undetermined point thereafter, make their case before Selig.
  • Cherington added that the issue of Red Sox personnel following Epstein to Chicago remains undecided. He did, however, say, “If there’s an opportunity for one person [to go to] Chicago that’s clearly a better opportunity, then that’s good, we don’t want to stand in anyone’s way. There’s an understanding the Cubs won’t raid the Red Sox and the Red Sox aren’t going to raid the Cubs. It should be a good relationship going forward.” The fact that he explicitly said “one person,” to me, means that “one person” will be coming over from the Red Sox. The leading candidates are special assistant Dave Finley, director of baseball operations Brian O’Halloran, trainer Mike Reinold, or executive VP of business affairs Jonathan Gilula.
  • The Cubs will continue to grow their front office over the offseason, but even if it doubles from its previously-scant 10 (full-time, Chicago-based, front office personnel with evaluation or decision-making authority), it will still be outpaced by most large market clubs. We’re truly learning just how behind the times the Cubs had become.
  • Carlos Zambrano is in Venezuela to pitch in the Venezuela Winter League, but, before he does, he’s filming a Pepsi commercial with Bobby Abreu and Ozzie Guillen. But, as usual, I’m sure the subject of the Marlins never comes up. Ever.
  • written by

    Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

    more cubs news

    Enhanced Box Score: Cubs 5, Pirates 4 – May 12, 2024

    It's Mother's Day. I'm hanging with the family. I don't feel like being as pissed off as a game like that threatened to make me. So I am QUITE relieved by that 10th inning (and the fact that the Cubs...

    Christopher Morel Kicks Off Mother’s Day With Some Love

    I'll just presume he was sending this one out for mom. And I'll also presume that the knee is indeed feeling good. Home run number nine on the season for Christopher Morel: https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1789713524052087082

    Pre-Gamin’: Cubs at Pirates (12:35 CT) – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

    CUBS LINEUP — The Cubs have played thirteen series so far this season, and this is already their eighth rubber match. Let's see if Kyle Hendricks and the Cubs can bring this one in. Chicago Cubs Lineup: Nico Hoerner, SS...

    Cubs Roster Move: Kyle Hendricks Activated to Start Today

    No surprises here, as the decision to start Kyle Hendricks this afternoon against the Pirates was made yesterday, but the news has officially hit the wire, and here it is. Kyle Hendricks Activated Kyle Hendricks is returning from his short...

    Horrible History, Morel’s Knee, Almonte’s Shoulder, Hoerner, Wesneski, Hendricks, Mervis, and Other Cubs Bullets

    Happy Mother's Day to the mothers among you, and to the mothers in my life! I'll be doing some extra family stuff today, so I'm gonna cruise through these Bullets ... Up front, because this was certainly the thing most...

    Kyle Hendricks Will Start for the Big League Cubs Tomorrow

    The Sunday TBD has been D'd, and it's going to be Kyle Hendricks coming back an outing early. Instead of making another rehab start at Iowa, Hendricks is going to be activated from the IL to rejoin the rotation tomorrow:...

    Enhanced Box Score: Pirates 10, Cubs 9 – May 11, 2024

    The Cubs came within 90 feet of keeping that ridiculous game going. No dice. Stupid game. Early on, it just kinda seemed like the Cubs might lose a perfectly normal - bad, but normal - game. Justin Steele did not...

    Pre-Gamin’: Cubs at Pirates (3:05 CT) – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

    CUBS LINEUP — After a little tease yesterday, Seiya Suzuki is actually, officially in the Cubs lineup today. And he'll be greeted with a tough matchup against the top pitching prospect in Major League Baseball. Welcome back! Chicago Cubs Lineup:...

    Oh, Good, Yency Almonte is Now Also Hurt

    Today the Chicago Cubs placed reliever Yency Almonte on the Injured List with a right shoulder strain. Jose Cuas has been recalled from Iowa to take his place in the bullpen. Almonte, together with Mark Leiter Jr., had been performing...

    Credit to Assad, Huge Ups to Brown, Hopes for Taillon, Happ’s Bat and Glove, Bellinger History, and Other Cubs Bullets

    How did I not know that the Aurora Borealis was going to be visible last night?!?!? I woke up this morning to all these awesome pictures from friends and other people in the area, and I'm MISERABLE ABOUT IT. With...

    Latest News

    Nuggets vs. Timberwolves Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets for Western Conference Semifinals Game 5 – Tuesday, May 14, 2024

    The Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves take the court in Game 5 of the second round of the NBA Playoffs. The Nuggets are favored by 4.5 points in the contest, which airs on TNT at 10:30 PM ET. The...

    Knicks vs. Pacers Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets for Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 5 – Tuesday, May 14, 2024

    The New York Knicks are slight 2-point favorites heading into Game 5 of the second round of the NBA Playoffs against the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, beginning at 8:00 PM ET on TNT. The series is...

    Mavericks vs. Thunder Predictions, Best Bets and Odds: Western Conference Semifinals Game 4 – Monday, May 13, 2024

    The Dallas Mavericks are slight 1.5-point favorites heading into Game 4 of the second round of the NBA Playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder at American Airlines Center on Monday, starting at 9:30 PM ET on TNT. The Mavericks hold...

    NHL Playoffs Anytime Goalscorer Bets and Odds Today – May 13

    Anytime goal-scorer odds are listed in this article, with two Stanley Cup Playoffs Second Round games on the NHL calendar Monday.Watch the NHL on Fubo!Today's Top Anytime Goal OddsNathan MacKinnon (Avalanche) -115 to scoreAvalanche vs. StarsGame Time: 12:00 AM ET...

    Oilers vs. Canucks NHL Playoffs Second Round Game 4 Prediction: Live Odds, Stats, History and Picks – Tuesday, May 14, 2024

    The Edmonton Oilers welcome the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday, and are -218 favorites on the moneyline, with the visiting team at +180.Watch the NHL on Fubo!Oilers vs. Canucks Favorite, Moneyline, TotalFavorite: Oilers (-218)Underdog: Canucks (+180)Total: 6.5Best Oilers vs. Canucks Promo...

    How to Watch Athletics Games: Full 2024 Schedule, Live Stream and More

    It's a bittersweet season for the Oakland Athletics. As they prepare to begin their move to Las Vegas for the 2028 season, the A's are looking to make their final year at the Coliseum one to remember. With a little...

    Angels vs. Cardinals: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

    On Monday at 9:38 PM ET, Taylor Ward and the Los Angeles Angels (15-26) take on Brendan Donovan and the St. Louis Cardinals (16-24) at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.If you're intending to watch this game, keep reading for streaming and...

    Mariners vs. Royals: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    The Seattle Mariners (22-19), led by Josh Rojas, host Bobby Witt Jr. and the Kansas City Royals (25-17) on Monday at 9:40 PM ET.Keep reading to see how to watch the Seattle-Kansas City matchup in the article below.When is Mariners...

    How to Watch Diamondbacks vs. Reds: Live Stream or on TV

    Jordan Montgomery will take the mound for the Arizona Diamondbacks (19-22) when they host starter Graham Ashcraft and the Cincinnati Reds (17-23) in a series opener on Monday, with first pitch at 9:40 PM ET.Keep reading to find out all...

    Padres vs. Rockies: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    Jurickson Profar and the San Diego Padres (22-21) host Ryan McMahon and the Colorado Rockies (12-28) at 9:40 PM ET on Monday.Keep reading to find out all the details on how to watch San Diego take on Colorado live.When is...

    more cubs news