After three playoff seasons with the Boston Red Sox — including one in which the team captured its first World Series Championship in 86 years — former Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein officially announced his decision to leave the team and pursue a new chapter in his life.
Epstein did not say exactly why he resigned but denied rumors on Wednesday that chain-of-command issues or local media coverage caused him to leave.
“In the end, you have to devote your heart and soul to it,” Epstein, who resigned on Monday, said at a press conference inside the Crown Royal Club at Fenway Park. “In the end, I decided I couldn’t do that.”
The 31-year-old Brookline native, who became the youngest general manager in baseball history when he signed with the Red Sox in 2002, said nothing could have kept him with the team.
“I had to think about whether it was the right fit for the organization, and in the end it wasn’t right,” he said.
Epstein also denied reports published over the weekend that he and the Red Sox leadership ever struck a lucrative three-year deal. He declined to reveal details of “excruciatingly honest” talks with Red Sox ownership and management.
Sports writer Dan Shaughnessy wrote a column in last Sunday’s Boston Globe chronicling what some have called a power struggle between Epstein and Red Sox President and CEO Larry Lucchino, but Epstein said his relationship with Lucchino played no role in his decision.
“Focusing on one person is not appropriate here. We’ve had a successful working relationship,” Epstein said. “As with any long relationship … there are occasionally times where you have philosophical differences. … If there are reports of a power struggle or meddling by Larry, that really wasn’t the case.”
Lucchino did not attend the press conference.
Red Sox owner John Henry joined Esptein at the conference and also went to the mat for Lucchino.
“It angers me that Larry Lucchino has been blamed for this,” Henry said. “I hold myself wholly responsible.”
Henry praised Epstein’s diligence and selflessness. Calling Epstein’s resignation a “great loss” for the team, Henry said even he does not completely understand why Epstein is leaving Boston.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I think this would happen,” he said, adding that Epstein’s resignation was not a money issue.
Henry said he has not yet started searching for a new GM because he has “been so immersed in trying to convince Theo to stay.”
Epstein also commented on his recent heightened celebrity status.
Recently, he said, photographers visited his home for the first time since he became a GM. He asked the press to respect his “privacy and boundaries.
“This is a public job, and I had to make sacrifices,” he said. “[The media attention] was cause for some soul-searching, but it was not a major factor in my decision. I was able to reconcile that toward the end.”
Epstein will assist the Red Sox through next week in preparation for general managers meetings before he turns to his future. He said he has no immediate plans and would not rule out the possibility of returning to the Sox down the road.
“I am not burnt out,” he said. “I believe I will find myself with a baseball organization in the future.”
Epstein said one team has contacted him, but he will not discuss job offers until next week. He would not say whether the call came from the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Epstein said he was sad to leave while there is still work to be done for the team and he will “watch from afar with admiration.” He asked Boston fans to stand by the Red Sox in upcoming seasons as the team’s farm system integrates players into the major league roster.
“Younger players take time,” he said. “You have to have patience.”
Red Sox players, including Jason Varitek, Jonathan Papelbon, Mike Timlin and Kevin Millar have expressed disappointment with Epstein’s departure.
“It makes me feel good to hear I am respected and liked by the people I worked with,” Epstein said. “I never foresaw this day. Sometimes you have to take the difficult path because it is the right path.”
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