SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (670 The Score) -- As the Cubs enter a pivotal offseason with a handful of core players having two years remaining on their deals, president of baseball operations Theo Epstein is on the same contractual timeline.
He'd just rather the focus isn't on his future and what's to come for him after the 2021 season.
"I don't look at my contract," Epstein said at the GM Meetings when asked about his future. "I just think about what is best for the Cubs, what is best in our short- and long-term interest? Also, what is important to Tom (Ricketts) and his family? We want a sustained period of winning. We have pulled it off so far. I don't think anyone wants to see it abruptly end at a certain point. It's important to take a long view. That's the attitude we all try to take -- what's best for the Cubs?"
Epstein signed a five-year extension worth $47.5 million in September 2016, not long before the Cubs embarked on a playoff run that resulted in them breaking their 108-year championship drought. The shortcomings of the ensuing three seasons -- including an 84-78 mark and playoff-less 2019 -- have left Epstein motivated to lead the organization back to elite status.
"We are just being open about it," Epstein said. "Any team that doesn't win the World Series is trying to change it up to win more games. If you look at the totality of what we have done the last five years, it has been impressive. I don't think we are that far away. You want to get better and make sure you can compete at a high level and win at a high levels as long as possible. We knew there would be difficult decisions going ahead."
The end of the 45-year-old Epstein's current contract will mark 10 years for him with the franchise. His baseball legacy is already secure after he led the Red Sox to two World Series titles and the Cubs to one, breaking long droughts in both cities.
"I don't think it's appropriate to talk about myself when we are here focused on the Cubs and trying to make it better as an organization," Epstein said. "I have an important role in leading the baseball department. The Cubs are hundreds and hundreds of employees, and the baseball covenant is between the owner, players and fans. I think it's fair to talk about behind the scenes for any individual in the organization and how it fits into the big picture. That is easily solved when everyone puts what in the best interest of the Cubs at the forefront of the thinking."
While Epstein downplayed his future, he was passionate when asked if he still has the same fire when taking the Cubs job in October 2011.
"Absolutely," Epstein responded emphatically. "That's why we have been working our butts off in trying to make some of these changes we felt are important. It's really important work and flying across the country and staying up late for interviews and looking at every aspect we do at a very granular level is happening to try and get it right to get it back with a lot of passionate energy. To be a model is the goal."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
