So...apparently the decision is going to be left in Selig's hands as far as what sort of compensation the Red Sox will receive from the Cubs for Theo. My question is...What sort of checks and balances are involved? Can Selig just pick whatever HE views as a fair value, and can either side "veto" the decision?

I'm not saying Selig would do this, but is there anything stopping him from say...choosing that Castro has to be given to the Red Sox? I know that Chicago would burn (again) before this was allowed, but just for sake of discussion, is Selig's decision final?

I would imagine that it would be a team of advisors to Selig that would give a lot of input and Selig as the person to announce "his" decision.

Thoughts/input/etc ?

It's not in Selig's best interest for baseball to do that. He already has used the Cubs signing Andy McPhail as precedent, and said that at that time the Cubs sent their 30th ranked prospect and cash for McPhail. I would assume that he would make a decision that is similar to that. Furthermore, he certainly doesn't want to set the precedent that a team should trade a 22 year old star shortstop for an executive. If the Red Sox get that for Theo, don't the Padres come running and screaming about what they should receive for McLeod? If Theo warrants Castro, then McLeod would warrant at least Brett Jackson.

I'm not really worried about the compensation issue. I'm sure it will get resolved eventually and it will probably end up in a guy like Ben Wells or something similar to that plus a little money and that will be the end of it.

wegotwood wrote:It's not in Selig's best interest for baseball to do that. He already has used the Cubs signing Andy McPhail as precedent, and said that at that time the Cubs sent their 30th ranked prospect and cash for McPhail. I would assume that he would make a decision that is similar to that. Furthermore, he certainly doesn't want to set the precedent that a team should trade a 22 year old star shortstop for an executive. If the Red Sox get that for Theo, don't the Padres come running and screaming about what they should receive for McLeod? If Theo warrants Castro, then McLeod would warrant at least Brett Jackson.

I'm not really worried about the compensation issue. I'm sure it will get resolved eventually and it will probably end up in a guy like Ben Wells or something similar to that plus a little money and that will be the end of it.

I appreciate the feedback. Yeah, I'm not worried that the compensation would be even a MLB player, much less Castro. I think that would put a very strain on Selig's office not to mention a dangerous precedent (as you said, and in which I agree).

Basically, it will most likely be a token player and some cash. Hypothetical, IF it was something that either side deemed grossly unfair, would their be any way for them to contest Selig's decision?

I know this would not happen...

But if it would take Castro to solve the deal I would be done watching and following the MLB.

Thankfully, that won't happen so there's nothing to worry about.


I, however, did read this quote this morning:

An AL GM who is not associated with the Red Sox or Cubs believes that Commissioner Bud Selig will give Boston a significant player in the compensation agreement: "I don’t think MLB wants executives leaving their teams before their contracts are up and therefore he will try to deter teams from doing that again."

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/01/c ... ioles.html

Soriano would be a significant player. Don't think we could get that lucky though.

Everything I've heard about the situation if Selig got involved, as Woody stated, says that it would be based around the Andy McPhail deal back in the '90s. I know Selig was quoted as saying that he really didn't want to get involved in the compensation anyways to avoid setting any sort of precedence for a rare occurrence. I honestly think it won't be much in the way of a player and I think in the end, it will almost feel like a steal for us.

cubbiefan009 wrote:I know this would not happen...

But if it would take Castro to solve the deal I would be done watching and following the MLB.

Thankfully, that won't happen so there's nothing to worry about.


I, however, did read this quote this morning:

An AL GM who is not associated with the Red Sox or Cubs believes that Commissioner Bud Selig will give Boston a significant player in the compensation agreement: "I don’t think MLB wants executives leaving their teams before their contracts are up and therefore he will try to deter teams from doing that again."

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/01/c ... ioles.html

I don't really put much stock in that quote. Normally mlbtraderumors is a solid site, but they will put just about anything up as newsworthy. Some AL GM, who isn't with the Red Sox and wants to be anonymous, claims no sources but says that he BELIEVES that Selig will give the Sox a "significant player". Not saying that they shouldn't have posted it, but I think it's misleading. Selig has already been pretty straight forward about the situation. I wish I could find the article, but it even has Selig speaking of the only real solid precedent is the 30th ranked prospect plus $200K.

I think it'll be someone significant that we don't want to lose, but not someone close to the majors.

I can't see it being anymore than a Lake and Carpenter duo. A little steep, but certainly worth it.

tryptamine wrote:I can't see it being anymore than a Lake and Carpenter duo. A little steep, but certainly worth it.

Lake alone would be much too steep....

The entire situation is a farce. As a lateral move, I can understand it. But in no way is this lateral. The fact that there is any compensation is ridiculous. It needs to be nothing more than James Adduci...

I agree and using McPhail as an example it would be the Cub's 30th best prospect and some cash. For whatever reason, I'm actually pretty concerned Selig is going to stick it to us here to the tune of something like McNutt, Candelerio which would be absurd for a promotion.

First off, this should never have gotten this far. The compensation of hiring a general manager to be your general manager should be steeper than hiring a general manager to become the president of baseball operations. Honestly, the compensation for Jed Hoyer should be more than the compensation for Theo. These are all men that worked together and should have been simple.

If the cubs were told to give up an upper end prospect they should also have the choice as stupid as it sounds to return theo. But they have dug themselves into this hole and are now stuck with it. The selig decision will probably be biased towards the team he feels is being more unreasonable over these past three months. If it costs us a top prospect it should be put on the record of these three amigos as a failure.

With Castro and Rizzo ans Sczcur in place, I wouldnt be surprised if it includes a low level outfielder, shortstop or first base prospect with a big upside. It will turn out to being somebody that would have been a trade piece anyway.

The thing most people forget though is there is already cash trading hands. Remember the cubs agreed to pay the 3.5 million dollar bonus in the red sox contract with theo that was due at the end of the contract. I think the cubs think thats enough compensation to a promotion hire and tend to agree.

I wouldn't lose too much sleep over this whole thing. Take out all the names involved (Cubs, Red Sox, and Theo) and just look at the situation generically. All you have is a well respected General Manager who was given permission by the franchise he was under contract to to interview for a promotion with another franchise. Really, it shouldn't be much more than a monetary compensation, buy out his contract and possibly some extra to smooth things over. I don't see why prospect compensation should even be considered for an executive. It's not like we had to give up any draft picks or players to sign Phil Embry.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/75726 ... -arguments

at least some movement, no decision date set.

Just give them Carpenter or Dolis and be done with it. And if Boston is asking for more, then I just dont know.

Theo left Boston for a promotion. I would understand if he made a lateral move, but lets get real here. Selig doesnt want to set some bad precedent here, and I just cant see the compensation being that significant.

If they end up not agreeing to agree, I sure hope the cubs agreeing to pay the 3.5 million bonus for the red sox comes off the table as well.

Sounds like it's going to be Chris Carpenter. Never bought his ability to close, but he certainly had the stuff to be a good set up man.

Id rather lose Dolis even though I think he has always been underrated. Carpenter has the tools to be a great closer. With Marmol on the way out, it would be a fairly big loss.

this is too much. carp can hit triple digits, hate to see him in boston. that 3.5 should be out of the deal if it is carp.

Now there are rumors it could be McNutt. That would really hurt. He is a guy I expect to be in the Cubs rotation by the end of the year.