Usual monkey business on contract info
Secrecy is priority with Sox, Epstein
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Presumably, Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein was not sneaking out of Fenway Park in a gorilla suit yesterday, but that doesn't mean his contract negotiations were proceeding any less oddly than the last time his deal was up. Three years after Epstein left the Red Sox for 85 days over a disagreement about the way the organization was being run and would be run, he is again working on a new contract.
It's a situation that seems perpetually fraught with confusion where Epstein and ownership are concerned. Or at least shrouded in enough secrecy to make the White House proud.
Three years after he signed what was likely a three-year pact - the terms were never fully confirmed - Epstein seems to have agreed preliminarily on a deal to remain with the Red Sox. That does not mean the deal is signed; his last contract wasn't inked officially until nearly a year later. Those questions, you might remember, were finally answered in a meeting with Boston writers in which Epstein uttered the notable words, "We have an understanding that I guess was memorialized with a signature."
And even that was in flux yesterday.
Though principal owner John Henry backed away from early comments on the state of the contract of the notoriously private Epstein, he had earlier characterized the negotiations as "done."
"Negotiations are done - have been done," Henry wrote in an e-mail. "But nothing has been signed. We're focused on the season and lawyers are handling the details. Has everything been agreed to? No. Lawyers go back and forth on items.
"So there is no deal yet. I said 'yes' meaning the main negotiations were done, have been done. But neither side has signed anything."
That "yes" response came after the Globe asked Henry if negotiations were done. And that question came after Henry sent this e-mail: "Additionally I would say about the contract negotiations (I should probably say nothing), we are all on the same page with regard to our vision for the organization. The negotiations were pleasant and were all about rewarding Theo for the great, great job he has done in bringing two world championships to the Red Sox. We all look forward to the difficult task of trying to win a third."
But that wasn't the end. Less than three hours after the initial e-mails came another: "I got a little ahead of where we are today in commenting on what have been refreshingly private negotiations. We are not done, but we expect to have an announcement in the near future. I have asked all involved not to comment until this is finalized."
Those involved were on lockdown at that point, with Epstein, Larry Lucchino, and Tom Werner not returning phone calls last night. Only manager Terry Francona was left to speak about Epstein. And though he was wary of rating his boss - as any employee would be - Francona could only glowingly praise the man who put him in position to win two world championships in four seasons.
"I know they've been talking, and I hope that they're nearing the finishing line, which it sounds like they obviously are," Francona said. "I certainly can't imagine being here without Theo. It should get done. He's done a great job. I'm excited we're getting to that point.
"I love to brag about him. I enjoy that. I saw some of the statements he made when he came here on how he envisioned the organization would be. It seems like he has met those goals, and I love working for him.
"It's hard; you're supposed to have an opinion. You don't get to where I'm sitting without having a strong opinion. Sometimes those opinions, they're not always the same. When things get going really tough, though, it's nice to know he's there."
Whether or not the pen has been put to paper, it appears Epstein will remain with the Sox for some time. It was not known exactly how long that will be. And that's how Epstein wants it.
After negotiations became a spectacle in 2005, he vowed to no longer reveal the end date of any pact. Even so, it is clear his current deal is nearing its end, and that "in the near future," the loose ends will be tied up, Epstein will remain with the Sox, and he will find his team going for another World Series title at some point. If not, there's always an old gorilla suit lying around.
Amalie Benjamin can be reached at abenjamin@globe.com. 