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Schuster: Cubs Ready To Move On After Resolving Theo Compensation

By David Schuster-

MESA, Ariz. (CBS) – One of the longest-running soap opera sagas is finally over, as the compensation package for Theo Epstein joining the Cubs was announced Tuesday.

The Cubs sent reliever Chris Carpenter and a player to be named to the Red Sox. Boston will also send a player to be named back to the Cubs. The players to be named will be announced by April 15.

General manager Jed Hoyer was glad that this four-month story finally came to a conclusion.

"I think both sides are happy that this is behind us, and now we can move forward with the spring without worrying anymore about the compensation," Hoyer said Tuesday.

Initially, when this story first unfolded, the Red Sox were asking for Starlin Castro or Matt Garza, so giving up Carpenter is nowhere near that level. Still, Hoyer said this is a painful loss.

"He is a difficult guy to lose, but we realized we were going to lose something of value when Theo came over here," Hoyer said. "I hope Chris has a lot of success over there, but there was a price to be paid for getting Theo over here".

Carpenter's eyes looked a bit red when reporters caught up to him.

"As soon as they called me into the coach's office, I had a feeling of what was going on," Carpenter said. "I can't say anything bad. I appreciate everything the Cubs have done for me and it's been a great organization over the past four years. I'm looking forward to going to Boston and helping them to win now".

Carpenter's cell phone was going off every 30 seconds while reporters talked to him with calls from either the Red Sox or well-wishers. And when asked what it is like to be traded for a president in Epstein, Carpenter replied: "I guess my name will go down in history".

For more spring training coverage from Mesa, Ariz, click here. Find all of David Schuster's spring training blogs here and follow him on Twitter (@schumouse).

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