Cahman out. Epstein in?

Marcus Hayes and Todd Zolecki are both reporting that Cashman is staying with the Yankees taking another big name off the GM list, but one might be added on.

Reports out of Boston are saying Theo Epstein has turned down the latest offer from the Red Sox.

Epstein would make things interesting, but I can’t think there is anyway that Boston lets Theo walk in 5 days when his contract is up or that Theo would really want to leave.. More likely as long as there is high profile opening like the Phillies Theo will use that as leverage for a better deal from the Sox. So I’m going to think that it’s a pipe dream that Young Epstein will be in Philly for an interview in a few days.

Gerry Hunsicker is still out there but there’s this from Marcus Hayes’s latest.

“Meanwhile, former Astros GM Gerry Hunsicker, who built the team that took the wild-card berth the last two seasons and played in Game 3 of the World Series last night, met in Houston with Tampa Bay baseball development director Andrew Friedman, league sources said. It is the second meeting between Hunsicker and the Devil Rays, who seek an experienced voice to guide Friedman, who is 24.”

One has to think if the Rays offer him a job and he hasn’t been contacted by the Phillies yet, which is what has been reported, than he’ll be off the list soon as well.

It looks like the first wave of interviews won’t start till next week if we’re lucky, starting with Wade’s assistants Ruben Amaro Jr. and Mike Arbuckle.

Amaro Jr. is running the show in the mean time, and doing a pretty bad job so far with the latest news being that Vicente Padilla might be playing some winter ball in Valenzuela which over last two years the Phillies have kept him from throwing in the winter due to his injury problems. The reason I say might be playing winter ball is these two quotes first from Amaro Jr. after hearing that Padilla has already thrown one 6 inning game.

"I'm not surprised he's pitching. We don't have any problem with him throwing,"

Are you telling me the acting GM of the team doesn’t even know what’s going on with one of his pitchers? On top of that the team has no problem with him throwing? So one might guess the Phillies will let Vicente walk off into free agency then, right? Armaro Jr. says… "We do not foresee that happening."

Last bit of news both Burrell and Lofton has some surgery over the weekend. Pat had a bone spur and a “loose body” in his right foot removed. While Lofton cartilage removed from his left knee. Both are expected to ready for spring training, but I doubt Lofton will be wearing a Phillies uniform. What am I saying? I have no idea what to expect from the Phillies at this point.