Theo Epstein, Red Sox GM

Well -- only a couple of days away from the truck departing from Fenway Park in. Heading for Fort Myers were only seven days away from. Pitchers and catchers reporting what better way to get to in the hot stove mood to talk to the general manager of the Boston Red Sox Theo Epstein -- I don't. -- well I'm kind of anxious to get baseball don't hear about you know.

Yeah there there are actually. Beat the flat out Thorman and well well. It'll -- get it started out -- Florida.

Are you really do feel for I. -- this up but to say. That -- to break the ice. Let let me ask you does the -- There was there was a lot of conversation about the Red Sox interest in Mark Teixeira obviously I'm with the Yankees. What was your interest in what was your your view on how things turned out.

Well yeah you know upbeat that we had legitimate interest on the net and make you. An elite player really low around where. We in his prime but he. -- he does a lot of things that we like well again when a pitcher powered by the victory air I'll -- due to get hit. For the long term and he -- just anytime you -- you. Go after players are choir. -- bad about language yeah bigot that. No longer to get people like that it probably because that's one or two years that could be. -- long term fit each he really -- compliment that the core. That we now they're really well not out about that we we haven't. Yet developed. Looked at the power and her -- Arnold respect it well so organized now. Rationale for our interest that it you know he would that that it detour club over the long -- We certainly did on Adam but I'm I'm about it turned out and we we did not -- money yet but it turned out -- A club offered more money than we did and he and they got the player. Not they have the only factor is there are a lot of factors that -- to -- and quite you don't want the mob wanna go yeah. No doubt about it by about Yankee. Mark go to law or well. You know -- the -- PI -- about the next eight years now we actually done a pretty did not get -- mister well I don't think India.

Did you feel like it was one of those situations where you're running up -- many you offered. X amount the Yankees were -- offer one dollar more so to speak or one million dollars more did you get that sense as in not in negotiations.

Mother apparently had I think. In general all up our look that create it negotiations. -- true open market negotiate and the players that. Yet you will be at the -- going to get a liar and -- made about a bigger Martin's hair. And then we do not -- it we have tremendous resources what. -- in the book up about what they could be our special that he wrote me back yet bewildered at street. -- out they're going to get the wire that one on one on the open market. -- and end and that -- you know I. What we're not building organization recreate it I don't think that's the intelligent way to build an organization or building yet drew. -- dropping players signed by internationally developing all wrong or it and and complement and yes. Betrayed freaked -- I always do it yet you want where did you apply. Can't delegate Margaret didn't models are going to land that is due to -- respect that. This particular negotiate and I don't think we're running up street. Not because you're gonna always about that. I don't know that I go to class now. That way you're younger you played a factor here eat. Is it from the -- on the area -- Yeah I think. Yeah a little. Bit maybe they're yeah they're -- Goldberg that we. On to that area quicker -- rather worked our -- for Sam oriented. The US open champion New York though he that the -- being reported -- it back there we you know we had attack it yet but not court but. Yeah I'm not probably know how it turned out in opera a lot of money do we in opera moment when it will -- not.

The -- setting aside the Teixeira negotiations because that was. One of these examples of business as usual -- what did you find the economic playing field different this year how much did you find doing business different this offseason and it's been. In the past --

I don't know it it and he -- I don't -- about it retreat. Yeah here. I'm not didn't hit -- in the truly elite basic outline it. I don't know it -- yeah. Well you know at. It out there like the armed economy -- a -- and -- it should be any they're. Spare. Lot of club and armored division than those who work -- ball well. It is -- it it been a market where -- supply and demand. Dictated remarkable isn't getting Mormon another moment and venerable. Her watching it and -- they're not sure. -- revenue this year into the future as they are all just wait and expand and -- Now that may occur. In the integrity. A certain line.

Because of the changing economic climate of the offseason. Were you surprised when Jason Varitek declined salary arbitration.

Now that the that the personal decision -- never. -- Republican economic theory about that as it is -- that he that make what you -- the you know you rely on -- You know -- early in the off either the first week of December. And he's not that I'm the market at purely declined to now -- Thank those players that our ability to -- there are a lot of players around baseball players do. Were offered arbitration or looking for multi year deals and it turned down -- arbitration. In the market the -- well multi year deal would be harder. Aren't not dealt with -- that he and it worked out and again I think that you know -- back that contract that accomplished while the goal on both sides -- Bergkamp. It's. -- much more likely that will be a red -- I'm not only about nine but. You know and allow threat but we. We've got to where he's at that that the beginning of the out and got beat you eat -- what we do and we got to Matt or write the article but --

Did you go into this offseason. I'm thinking that you were -- Jonathan Papelbon. Dustin Pedroia. And Kevin Youkilis signed to deals.

Well. With. Without a bargain you arbitrary now the wire that we knew we beat yet -- Earlier on another there or Calabria or will he get it done or at their gate number it didn't. Arbitration process but out -- Pedroia equals you know we -- there are among the players that we wanted -- down at multiyear convert -- literally. -- You know there are really reasonable and Eddie and -- or something out of it. That is hopeful look back at an important part of Marat is ayello locked. The draw out her -- immediately. I'm they -- an option and eat and keep us. -- here's an option we know anybody that prior years get -- option they get a life partner at the security we get. Cost control portability and now tell you part of our our offense and the cork -- the one where there are all but.

Youkilis is not your traditional number four hitter if you had Q. Have him hit cleanup for the entire 2009 season not that you're responsible for writing the lineup but it is he your cleanup guy. Are you comfortable with that.

And it Wellemeyer up though it Eric -- opened the inning and all over the line -- but I think when people that you look at that tradition on the net you know upper middle order -- I think. We haven't quite known about it all of the wire when he first came up with clear strength or law of the player like where. Yet aware about maverick -- in -- bracket that is and will only really -- power. Erratically only out there it is that you could drive. He's really changed I don't look a lot of the year -- that particular. He's still got above brought great stood -- above our -- that where but he occupied a little bit of that age and the look the drive the ball earlier in the count now you just approach where. Now there are numbered -- Like -- directly at the ball and you look at our last there so yeah did you pick pick having equal to about eight. Back act surprised that we are not ready eerie red ball. -- did it weak so an 88 or directly at the ball hitter got the ball much. -- didn't our globe a lot of people will certainly MVP. Like people in that.

You talked about the ability of the club to get long term deals done with Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis and cost effective deals that were good for both sides. Would Jason Bay be on your list of somebody you'd like to get done this this offseason as well.

Yeah yeah we. The top we weren't going to talk about who we want to. Locked up we'd like you know when they got artery. -- come out so I don't yet so this might just do not over yet. Expect to create and a year now or any other -- this year don't want to admit that but let did you street and market interminable. But. -- reliable repeat what that are out of it well or cute. In part you know negotiating a bit -- I'm negotiations -- an upbeat and -- on it right.

leaving the bay negotiations. Aside but just talking about -- the baseball player. What does he bring to your team when you acquired him -- trading deadline.

It dot W you -- underrated off that the -- on the ability to and a pitcher power very consistently I think that. If if if they are up but look at the right amount of thirty while I'm never here. Yeah also does it jobs. Or local garage the walk and it. -- Are very good runner. Pete and got time in the spirit and really got beat. -- Obama only got what you know he'd he will probably -- horrible liar well aware of you know. Reliable production -- Don't -- it without the independent trying to. Your order until it. Left field and does a little thank you would like run that gave them that obligation on the -- Garnett. Will not that the law. I'm better. At it hard but it went right regularly. It will definitely well.

I got a few more baseball questions or even let me ask you a question about where a wind tunnel there's like --

But it is little Indians -- up Florida out out. Up they pick BA degrees and -- over nine and are.

Every -- what you going in and out -- time but I think we have heard the essence of what I think you said. Of the last statement that went to hire Joe Torre as manager -- endure what about that you said that. -- it must have been a let me ask you this -- always put -- John Smoltz. As a brave and body would go back to the -- I was shocked. When you guys signed about was waiting for the bottom bottom drop out that -- now is really going back to Atlanta where you surprised. That he was available to Hewitt at reasonable dollars.

Yeah no I think our our function. The year ago. Mil a year and he. -- is create that they look at Duke who. Might give -- we get the -- you'd be back in Atlanta. No and even early early that obviously that. -- and when we found out that the potential there and to develop all we saw that we are outlet and on the video. We thought it was certainly worth a look -- he's either a guy that and he called a lot three. The only the only -- mark against them are staged. On the shoulder surgery that it in the -- You lead Atlanta though. What what those glare that you could be mellow thought the other club the -- every have a daughter extraordinarily well without proper one. He threw a ball -- in early December that would have made.

And out earlier though you'd see he has a bit of -- biblical treatment. And I hate to predict that in as you are covered we are really well -- career so well. The guy beat you never been anything but -- Whatever whatever you. Football and they're not over the -- in the major leagues -- we'll look at the that the got you you can bet on you can do.

They are you guys have always been very careful with how you handle pitchers and I think that's been -- attracting point. For guys like smoltz and Brad Penny the work you guys have done what these guys in the pitching coach. Are you concerned based on how carefully you monitor these things. At the innings jump that Jon Lester had from two years ago the last year.

Anytime but the to have that kind of company -- you ought to be concerned that there are a lot of factors that they did that. That the total -- is that little that artificially -- because. We started even earlier though it turned out great Britain and Japan count Hewitt out that anyway but they called spring training game. Or -- even though bishop would do. But there's a lot year that you got -- and bomb while -- delivery without. Outlining those -- that factored in the -- while the out clearly that when they're young pitchers you wanna at a more gradual progression and it's not that you are -- here. And -- you know outdoor life all play out but yet what a little bit not worry Juan -- They give you this you so ecstatic to volleyball and the in any other. Lott the minority here court mired in. That my final go check it out on top -- a strong shoulders. An organization. Well. -- Great that they're up there are no way W.

The L you've got a couple of players participating in the World Baseball Classic. Position players as well as pitchers. How do you feel about the classic in general and specifically. Your players participating. And it -- running parallel -- spring training.

Yeah you know I think -- a -- event with a lot on a lot. In baseball. It's. If he were designing. And I built spring training huge huge huge -- players can't certainly can't. All over valued than the you know that it ordered the -- I think that they're the count limit the play. They're in the tournament that will really regret it in any area and it can -- Know that propped up angers me and people that are got it back healthy and you know if they get back and a you know. -- that there were meant not to let it at all where all brick wall will pop up at oral.

What are your offseason reports on the health of Mike Lowell and are you concerned about. Any feelings that may have been bruised my offseason rumors concerning lol.

Kirk might tell. You know we. That they're real late remain at and -- projected and ready and started the year -- delegate -- that he -- beat -- we --

Don't. Start thinking about doing -- the ability to work. Eaten up pretty much pumped up built the the bell buddy and Kerry got really over focus on what he's -- look like at the end.

And yeah it is if we're smart about that all out when it's earlier. -- and out there and make sure he can play -- in any game that it that. Now a part the very being.

Normal beat out with them up and down on the last. You know aren't the only night might -- veteran and you understand.

Now -- organ -- do I -- players become their help all. And you know -- that might get along all of -- Do you expect to win every year go up little player and that that that the pitcher out there.

And it might. Understand that WG. That's. Earlier the only don't act a little bit doesn't mean you'd like it but like the veteran in there or you know.

That were talking. Regularly about it out in you either idiotic talk on butler at our little world there -- beat out not that they know are you.

That article -- only get it.

You know -- you can eat you are now like -- personally don't understand.

Well we don't have to mention names hear about remember another. Veteran former Red Sox player. Who have been around for awhile and there were talks about bringing in someone else and he. Held it with the men became public the redlining polarized -- the entire clubhouse. Built. Did you feel like I know Michael's a veteran and he's not like the guy I'm talking about what. It is -- conversation it is it something that you just have to stay and just get it passed it or. Is it business as usual.

It it will Utecht. But -- on the player's mind you got that come up then we build that and we move on that aren't as well today -- that. Got concerned -- you had you not talk about -- dot B we talk about are desperate and it can be move on. I think as they. -- player a lot of credit they're professional before -- that it is indicator prop.

Final question from me Theo do you anticipate that your offseason team building is done. Or they're still moves that you like to make if you can.

Yeah we're we're probably done it didn't always. Not -- turned back deep that. Might get. Your round out repair -- certainly didn't look -- well well I wouldn't rule it out not that it. That hot they're hot right now either. Pack and up and now I'm dreading it looked at her out and then get picked up America. Where I'm pretty well that at admiral initially that -- they'll get about the depth that and not you know -- out here. And we'll need it yet it was blog these and do you have people -- we needed every bit of that they're Latin if you -- up. The -- is how we look on the field a week or so.

still looking for that Red Sox letterhead that says that Red Sox in catcher Jason Varitek agreed to a deal that hasn't been offensively that's not professor yet right.

You know build our facility at all all the all in this -- Matt and these day and every free agent contract. And it's not been the gold. Follow you know that he would enter UB -- I'm.

Didn't eat. You can expect to get -- record.

That's pretty -- That a bulk of the signing is that -- become a week following.

Well enjoy the sunshine and we have sunshine here were only about fifty degrees colder than new but it's what the sunshine in the -- we'll see it out of Fort Myers. Thanks I don't know take care. They care that is Theo Epstein general manager of the Boston red sock.