The Cubs announced several changes to the front office prior to Wednesday’s game, the most notable was the firing of Oneri Fleita, the team’s Vice President of Player Personnel. Fleita joined the Cubs’ organization in 1995 and Crane Kenney promoted him to VP of Player Personnel in December of 2007. Tom Ricketts extended Fleita’s contract last September and gave him a new four year deal to keep him in the organization. According to Dave Kaplan, Fleita is owed around $900,000 ($300,000 per year) over the remainder of his contract.
Chuck Wasserstrom, the Cubs information manager, was relieved of his duties with the Cubs. Scott Nelson, Director of Baseball Operation, was offered a lesser role in the organization and stats manager Ari Kaplan will stay on with the organization as a consultant after his job was eliminated.
According to multiple reports, assistant general manager Randy Bush is in “good standing” with the organization moving forward and Jose Serra, the Cubs director of Latin American operations, is also expected to remain with the organization. Serra has three years remaining on his contract. The Cubs front office continues to evolve with the latest round of changes. Tim Wilken was promoted last week and the Cubs hired Jaron Madison to take over as Director of Amateur Scouting. The Cubs front office will continue to grow, even with the cuts that were announced on Wednesday.
From the Tribune, “We already have increased it,’ Epstein said. “Once we’re finally set and we have the structure … in place, player development, scouting, front office … if you do an apples to apples of where we were, say last October, I think it’ll certainly see an increase.”
Theo Epstein said that he would consider internal and at least one external candidate to replace Oneri Fleita. Epstein told the media that he thanked Fleita for his service to the organization.
From the Tribune, “It’s my responsibility to determine (what’s) going to put the Cubs in the best position going forward,” Epstein said. “Ultimately we reached the conclusion there would be a change (in the position).”
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