The Cubs extended the contract of Theo Epstein five years, as his current five year deal was about to expire.

Epstein, who turns 43 in December, inherited a Cubs franchise that had missed out on the postseason three consecutive years. His first full season at the helm saw the team bottom out at 61-101, the franchise’s highest loss total since 1966, before the rebound began. He now presides over a group that has already cleared the 100-win barrier in the final week of the regular season and has been MLB’s best throughout 2016.

Boston ownership wanted the team to win every year, because they needed a full Fenway Park and high TV ratings to pay the tremendous debt they incurred to buy the club. Esptein, after winning in 2004, wanted to dial back and build long term, which led to his temporarily leaving the Red Sox. With the Cubs, he was able to institute a plan from the beginning. It looks like his front office assembled a team that is young, and therefore cost controlled, that can win for a number of years. The Cubs are where the Yankees were in 1996. I suspect the best is yet to come from this group.