The Cubs don't even keep their contractors "in-house"?

                                                                                
Where's Theo on this?!

Compensation from the Red Sox to the Cubs for the loss of Theo?

Just tell the Cubs he comes with a free Lackey and everything is square!

When Theo's last 5 seasons with the Cubs are over....

....he can always return to the Red Sox for the last year of Carl Crawford.

See it through!

Oy!

I think Manny should stand outside Theo's office with a boombox playing Peter Gabriel

Hey, that suspension doesn't SAY ANYTHING about managing!

Theo Epstein quit again ?!

Time to call in the professionals

John Tomase of the Boston Herald writes that general manager, Theo Epstein of the Boston Red Sox and Jason Bay are in contractual negotiations but they have so far been unable to close the deal on a new contract.

Says Tomase: "Epstein characterized the negotiations thus far as 'weird' in the fact that Bay wants to stay, the Red Sox want him, and neither side is being unreasonable, and yet they still can't get a deal done."

Frankly, I know not to take things which are said to the press at face value but this really is one of the most feeble things I have ever heard a major league general manager say. In other words, Bay wants to be here, we want him here, he is not unreasonable in his demands but for some reason we just can't get this done now, this is so hard. As someone who negotiates for a living, I do know that timing can be everything in putting together a deal and the timing just might not be "right" on this one but I am still missing something here.

I think they need a "conflict resolution specialist" like Dr. Phil or Kate Gosselin to mediate this.* Lock them up in a room with nothing but gummi bears and water and don't let them out until they have an agreement so we don't have to hear any more wishy-washy statements from Theo Epstein on this.

Life is too short for these unresolved "weird" issues to be lingering around.

Get to it!

*I bet if you would agree to televise the arrival and departure of either of these specialists, they would be even more likely to come and do this. Just a thought.