Theo Epstein

" I Cecilia joining assert our broadcasts like the general manager of the Boston Red Sox do -- video it seemed to me the activity level after your first World Series versus the activity level in the offseason after your second World Series are worlds apart I assume that's not by design is just the way it's sort of worked out."

" Oh the consummation consummate -- but again I use all the factors number one and we had the ability over extending and schools reasonable deal. Where's that no more sport justice movement or else. And and then there still internally. We have -- much better organization we have the ability to fill holes and young players and as a team you don't so. It is much better position. As as an organization so we have to that's -- as the first time this offseason the second and externally. Namely the market street market trademark in our opinion or free agent market. Basically graft now on its way to acquire -- was dramatic over. Because of that team -- and the trade market which meant that. -- one or two young players to acquired -- improvement about it you know opposite old generation of young talent. In the Santana cases both -- in the on deck and ordinary time. In the and we sent we're better off as an organization for the long maybe not throw away with a long all do it."

" Adjust between the three of us Jerry -- you -- me where you really in the Santana thing where you in it to win it or was there are some sort of feeling that you know what if we get in it and stay in it and drive the price up and don't necessarily pull the trigger that's not a bad thing either."

" We were we were more in it to acquire Santana than than people thought and I read a lot of what was written after the fact that they were never in it at all. And that's not true I think we -- that would with limits -- You know it's if you take -- if you make a blanket rule that it's never worth trading prospects over. You know talented players are acquired a contract then you're going to miss opportunities -- players who are so good and so on tactful. And Tony aid and help the and project really well going forward. That did -- on your your one loss Titanic going forward that. They are worth that heavy investment both in terms of dollars in terms prospects and frankly we thought Santana fit that profile wells almost anybody possibly could. The issue was him just how much time we we have we left them with two solid offers they wanted and in night and actually I think that offers we left them when we're better than what they got from the twins -- from from the Mets now doesn't matter what I think it only matters what bill Smith thought. And frankly never really -- record of assessing young talent that built organization on scouting so I'm sure that tree's gonna work out -- and I thought we left him to get offers. What they wanted from us in my mind it would have been completely irresponsible to give up it would have been wiping out a whole generation of talent that was cultivated there are farm system. Talent that makes an impact this team and help us win for -- time."

" Is there unanimity of thought among the organization with a some dissenting views is that what you know I know it's a high price to pay but hey at Santana after all there were dissenting views on what we ended up offering some people thought we shouldn't of even offered what we Australia. But that there wasn't anyone in the organization who want to give up its act it would withdraw his harassment must which was trust mean extremely."

" The -- and Coco. Chris wants to be traded apparently wants to play every day. He's probably not going to a -- I think we all know who your center fielder is we leadoff hitter is can you."

" And let me let me think -- you finished -- I have to in her up there Matt has his fifth and I do after -- It that is not determined that really niners not I know GMs -- managers in this position have to say -- we've been saying. It's not just an obligation we firmly believe that means. Cocos value -- and play in the last two years his value is hard to discern. Day in day out is doesn't -- the possibilities of impact. Defensive player we have sire ratings as the best defensive center fielder in baseball last event and Cameron -- or better everybody. And so and we are the best run prevention team in baseball we allowed the fewest runs in baseball and it's tough division -- awfully tough ballpark in which to prevent runs. That's not off pitching key part of that is defense I think he's our best offensive players so. You know he's he's -- solid contributor to 96 when club. And this growth potential in the -- I'll be the first two committees to in my opinion underperformed office last two years. If you can just dead even close to what he did no four no five offensively and -- Bynum as the fans. That's a really good player but just at Oklahoma with the switch in the post season share it worked out now. Why would you switch back -- because Coco is horrible slump and use use -- you -- mentally frazzled he was you know he was. Not going to get at that mean you'd use really in his own head. And it it tough. Position Natalie in the best thing to do for the club was you know put some and there are a chance to to actually get on base and help us offensively as well defensively about TO. Made the right move at the right time but starting over now -- to assets and it's forgot the best way to handle us."

" A perfect world I think -- could be a great fourth outfielder a switch hitter great defensive player. But when play my question is this if when players. Demand a trade. Do you almost have to trade him I mean he rarely does a guy demand a trade in the GM. Or the -- whatever says sit tight too bad you know you gotta -- just play in today's game you generally on -- that kind of demand don't think so."

" I think we learned a lesson from what happened -- a few years ago wouldn't you know he was unhappy but you know Tito and I've talked about the Tito couldn't handle that better. I could've handled that better we end up making a trade action isn't decent then we got Chad Bradford form it fairly well. But we hit it straight out of position of weakness I think. What's good for the team overall pass to dictate and you could be sensitive to players' demands can be sympathetic to understand his position. You can see if there's a trade out there that it benefits the organization. But never. Again I don't think make a trade that doesn't organizations are soft crisp could be here this season as the with a -- used it you're totally skipping a step which this is the incumbent he's a center fielder who it is a role for. -- both guys in the organization possibly both guys on the team. And non not I I think -- when more than four I think he's starting center fielder championship club by definition here to establish that."

" If other general managers feel the same way about you that there's probably an upside offensively defensively it's certainly speaks for himself than my guess is he might have some value in their eyes and that might not be something you're able to resist no unfortunately."

" This offseason the one we talked about the market was the one area over there is surplus of town center fielder a legitimate free agent center feelers out there two of them remained. Unsigned and Kenny Lofton and Corey Patterson so there's virtually no market enough for center fielder right now and you know if there are more active trade market with a two assets that we had made -- would have done something that. Not -- virtually no trade market and you know we're really. We're really focus on a way to help to have both disasters selfless went."

" We we were looking at teams for which Coco could start in -- I agree with him these damn good player and a great defensive player and there you just have. His better in my opinion other teams Sean Casey could still start -- mean this is a former all stuck right."

" Yeah I think he'd try Canon Sammy suns his power has decreased over the years but he still got the very legitimate left handed bat is an excellent approach want to play as well off the bench. He uses the dynamic clubhouse guy and doesn't a much -- on the field his jacket and so I think their teams he could still start for me this was a unique case where. That we were almost hesitant to approach him because of the limitations of the role that was available. He almost sought us out today. You know I gotten I've no ego I wanna boys want to be part of the Red Sox on the part kept the club I can impact your team in this role on the bench on the bench while. To -- any -- do that before the contest that was that was an -- opener. -- feel it is is there -- divide between the club and virtually the goes beyond a medical different of opinion. I don't think so you know I am I honestly think what conflict. There was it was a result of you know the passion that both sides have to get him back in position and that the club he he is not happy camper when he's not able to catch most players. You know our grouchy went on the DL he -- pride takes it to -- level because of how much you know being a starting pitchers ingrained in his in his soul and and we need him I -- we we didn't sign him as a christmas -- we signed them because. It wouldn't expect 200 innings. But we thought that he was you know and we nixed that can be atop that rotation we -- as legitimate endings there to protect what would otherwise be pretty young. Rotation and now that we don't have them. -- that for young within ten of them we should be. And not. Terms of physical weights but in terms of the -- attention. And and you know we wish we Adam and we're not going to you know -- working with them until we get him back in a position to to contribute."

" Looking back hindsight being 2020 you satisfied your medical team gave you all the information you needed when you made the decision. The spend the money on."

" Yeah it's that condition that you know in our opinion was an existing at the time we signed -- playing lesson two weeks after the World Series the it just. You know pitched three good Koreans in the post season. He's in his shoulder tested extremely strong right at the -- season that time the contract we gave them an MRI. Compared it to the all the previous samurai has been there are no structural changes. So you know what but the medical staff told me it was you know I don't expect to under endings don't expect top hitter Jason Giambi can expect a reasonable facsimile of what we got 2007 which -- about a 150 innings of -- this off. You know how we hurt himself. Now we don't know he doesn't --"

" Buchholz experience last year Jon Lester experience last year how much an amateur can football -- number on that. Does that help those two young players is now they're required to. Carry more of the slack. Well I'm I'm very bullish on both those."

" Yes you know for the long term I think they're both going to be very very talented dependable members of the starting rotation of that said. They're going to be a lot of ups and downs and when you're relying on young pitchers and rotation their limitations you know after grows experience not going to go on TV -- need they're going to cost us games with. The stakes and ultimately help benefit them in the long run. I think masters experience last year. What he went through as a person let alone when he went there hasn't been through benefited more than we can ever qualify I think he's. If they want look out of physically recognize the different guys it's almost like he went back to where he was in 2005 blown 94 and dominating you strongly. He's he's back to that point physically but with a wealth of experience that he couldn't anyway Buchholz very happy to report to -- shoulder testing he he he is now that that lead levels the shoulder strain it was along with a top guys camp. Because of the work he put in this winners on hindsight. That move shutting him down and getting into a guy. And more importantly the commitment he had this winner to actually show up everyday for hours and hours and hours and do the work has put him in positions -- make an impact this year."

" You how to use the baseball people treatable medical staff in Jonesboro come up with a particular qualitative number that says this is what. It's kind of going to be the limit for -- this year as part -- part B what happens if it's. Mid August and he's at that inning level he's a bonafide dependable -- starter one through five what happens when he gets when eighty -- the end of August."

" I would never let him get to his limit mid August and we we plan at a time when it there you know face to yet -- to look backwards at the experiences of -- pitchers his age similarly situated in baseball. What the ones who looked healthy what -- career track looked like in the once he got hurt what -- track looked like and then come up with a reasonable rules that you know that you and then -- no exact science but I think we've. Knock on what we've had. More we'd have -- we've had fewer children elbow injuries and our minor league system pitches and organs it if this -- last five years by trying to find these rules. Get this scientific as you possibly -- can continue that application but you know if if -- has. And then as in the US and try reasonably -- with that would be is only on average two guys -- team who would reach that limit anyway -- sum up why would we hold them back. In April may and June when -- returns an ankle misses three weeks that'll take care of getting into the limit anyway. But if if we get into the middle of the season and it looks like he's -- reached his limit before we gets in a year that's when you can do. You can have productive rest we skip them return to let him refresh his arm and focus on maintenance program with a shoulder and also keep his innings under control for the rest there."

" How often do you do that shoulder testing that you do is that on -- do it regularly and yet we do it right here is that one of the barometers if he's."

" who is dead and and it's that's the best demonstration that is Papelbon who after Papelbon. That is episode was his shoulder he now is on a daily testing program so before Papelbon slots take the mound. There's objective criteria that he has to reach the shoulder that we be tested before every game for starter so -- their privacy to test -- every fifth day but yet we combined a lot of objective criteria is actually machine that you can use the -- this trainers have certain tests that they performed annually and is subject to test how does he feel how does it look as he maintains deliveries as velocity -- needs to be combined the objective and subjective trying to figure."

" And we want to pissed me improve as he can't pick up his own briefcase and and a war can never can I get a basket a question about your favorite topic and you'd probably bring in -- provided and the Mitchell report. Do you. Do you feel like and no there's been a lot of accusations because of Mitchell's. Affiliation that you guys were at a disadvantage but you personally. Having to turn over all your emails. That would make me uncomfortable -- you do you know."

" Yeah definitely."

" Was that some kind of disadvantaged and when they came became public. Did you feel like that this was personal and it's you never been public."

" What you know. My somewhat -- then Mitchell report came out side you know I kept getting emails that. You know my name is an airport everything in couldn't couldn't care less and in hindsight reading back. To me those emails to demonstrate that we are doing due diligence and doing our job and it was and it. I had -- ask guys to track down you know unsubstantiated rumors that someone was on steroids in the past so we can determine what you might. Perform like as a clean player going forward -- doing my job so. You know dad guess like it if I could press a button and have my name never appear in the -- to be great if you look at the emails all does demonstrate that we are doing."

" What did you think the day they told you the that you gotta give George all -- that you think. This is overblown."

" I guess I hope to not safe for work ones don't don't show up in the pits and Mitchell report somewhere try to avoid those you don't and and."

" And obviously took some criticism on the guy -- thing but it struck me that you don't have time. Or the and then the room to be an idealist in this situation you you mean Hussein is he on steroids because you're concerned about how we will reform going forward."

" You still have to do that -- didn't -- at -- I think we actually did we did -- to often a process that involved our ideals and our morals but we tried not to be. Completely righteous about it you know. It would in -- in my opinion because I guess addicted to policy he wouldn't be right to be judge jury and executioner and today for any player. We attention any player who has steroid rumors in the past that we can prove anything you are are you know there's the you know back to me from stats saying that looks like steroids is the issue that's that's the rumor that's his opinion. For any player in the past is a strong government that steroids for me to say it as a rumor to -- it as a rumor that he did that in the past. So I'm not going to employ his -- going forward. In the present in the future when as -- testing program with a testing program that's clean. That that that would make me judge jury and executioner first of all practically -- for dissent and incredible competitive disadvantage. But even beyond that from them from a from a moral standpoint I don't think that's right I don't think is right for me to say. You know because as a rumored you're in the wrong place at the wrong time you look like you were day or one of us now with a more than --"

" What are you tested positive we're gonna arrest there's something. And then you mean obviously gets to come back even under today's policy gets to come back after fifty games."

" That's advance a discussion you know sentimental -- organization qualifies but then that's a discussion I personally believe in redemption and hopefully -- strike out we and I did I just came on the field first first and foremost for the best in the field that. You know I don't believe personally and judging someone on the worst day I don't if any if you judge any of us are -- that. You know we'd all be condemned -- don't believe that. Your estimation bonds and Balco what Roger com is going through now and in the Mitchell report in between good or bad for baseball. That in the short term -- in the long I think that you know throughout the history days off. Almost once a generation the integrity of the game it's been around him you know about the black Sox scandal the challenge then -- The continuation of segregation until 94 senators found then. Seems like every generation has something that comes on the town -- integrity based on -- dark cloud comes on the game. And the great thing about sport is that. Somehow it triumphs in the hands this is going to be no different that there's no doubt the integrity game is being found as the cloud of the Cameron now. Hopefully some of these steps of the beginning of the lifting clout."

" When you pursued Roger Clemens we know you're an interest did you get a similar scouting report as you go with with the onion that said steroid rumors and and did you detect a player was that a factor in your decision."

" It wasn't specific I think there's you know for from. For almost every player out there you know there's some reason to sister to to question and wonder if this guy was. Using performance enhancing drugs Protestants that category as well -- Again under under that. Policy that we've -- up with him for practical and moral standpoint. The -- someone out because there are sort of on you know nebulous suspicions."

" And how do you how do you react to the through the mess of and Tampa and watched this press coverage with a 150 people questioning -- And obviously you don't wish good things on the Yankees what do you and anyway enjoying the."

" Now nine giant general tools the one thing at in CF that's on the -- that said this. You know took a moment to appreciate the fact that -- for the most part focused on baseball here and we got to deal at that time to --"

" We're not happy with this morning we feel we got no issues no question -- in -- batting order your pitching rotation every spot it seems. Settled I know you're keeping busy with the -- we supposed to do."

" Baseball take care of that now unfortunately there's a tremendous amount of attrition in this game as break down physically fast can't -- mentally. There will be brush fires you guys we'll have here. If subtext here narrative to carry offense in the year hopefully -- win enough games to decline in October does Japan where you. You know what I'm I'm impressed by the attitude that I -- right. The research that we did on the Japan trip the teams that have gone previously is you know one or two bad apples -- swallow alot so easily pitch in about a Kevin brown and Mike Mussina spent all time bitching about it that's on the Yankees team got back from the trip there are all using in this -- mean we've gone to it. And our individual players especially leaders in. Communicated that and you know first of all allowed most of the guys want the other veterans with Canada's most of them looked as something cool to experience for their career is over opportunities -- new country new culture young guys can -- Lester is going to be happy to be on the team. So long his -- as we keep. The brown and mussina approach from -- clubhouse I think we got a lot out of as a team building experience other than Daisuke might there be some big name to -- out and don't go who goes out we decide that. Our rosters don't you whole roster -- it's 45 or 28 it's -- five. And then you can bring five extra guys okay and then there's a little little room with -- point five guys you can you -- three players you can have. On the 25 man roster when you get back in and that don't have to go to my time and our bullpen."

" What was the biggest issue you have when you sell your schedule and I mean did. It's some logistically possible."

" Yeah you know it's it's going to be at the challenge for us I think you know from as far as the jetlag and things that you can do it is to adjust quickly or meaning and you know three weeks on the road at that time years difficult it's difficult to families more than else but it does provide great opportunity for two for team building we're at that insist they think teams have gone."

" And one question on Manny would you would in a perfect world would every guy have this kind of deal where he has you have an option. Club as an option."

" You know and -- perfect roller royals got the Wakefield contract. And activists and."

" I guess is as a little little big in on the twenty million but. For seven years who've been here how awful this contract is and god knows you guys weren't happy with the for a while there but it's pretty club friendly at this point is it not."

" Yeah I still think it's club friendly and player friendly at this point I mean you know about time this year is over me -- me at a 160 million dollars over eight years in the club. It stands a 169 and many years of an excellent performance two World Series championships in part. And the right to pick up enough for forty million dollars in 2009 and perhaps again in 2000 tense up. I don't -- either side loses matters and so you can -- us as we wrap this up that trophy club tranquility camp tranquility at some point we'll have a speed bump rush to talk about I promise you it is -- I'm so confident that that if you know three weeks now is still not felt personally taken my own hand there excuse me as someone signals with the video camera and upcoming exhibition games a lot while -- that -- meaningless and -- preparations so."

" You know this team we Neitzel and here it's like it caught speeding their sons and hybrid you got lit -- the field."

" I die I didn't tell denial basically flipped the verbal birds of the reporters in an element that's true I mean that's yeah that's some camps -- controversy I heard about it in the when -- kidding in the series I was half game back I was caught by surprise. You know it's that we've been here for ten days and come work everyday it's the same time as the first time their point cameras out there at thoughts on it says some really stupid and it's. That's my -- today is almost as some stupid now. So what's going on not then yeah I think -- Francona McClintock before you had to Japan I think yes I think you'll. --"