10:01 AM EST on Wednesday, January 25, 2006

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- In a rambling press release, with statements attributed to no fewer than six members of the organization, the Red Sox yesterday officially announced the return of Theo Epstein, some 11 weeks after his surprise departure and nearly a week after confirming he would be rejoining the ballclub.

The Red Sox said Epstein again would hold the post of executive vice president/general manager, the title he held for three full seasons before leaving the Sox on Oct. 31, unhappy over his own contract negotiations and the direction of the franchise.

No further details were announced, though Epstein is expected to be paid $1.5 million annually -- the amount that had been agreed upon prior to his decision to call off contract extension talks on Halloween.

Jed Hoyer and Ben Cherington, who had been promoted to co-general managers in December to fill the void left by Epstein, will remain with the club, albeit with new titles. Hoyer was named assistant general manager while Cherington was named vice president/player personnel.

When Hoyer and Cherington had been scheduled to be introduced last month as "interim co-general managers," president/CEO Larry Lucchino nixed that plan.

The Sox also announced that veteran baseball man Bill Lajoie would remain affiliated with the club, with Lajoie serving as special advisor/baseball operations and Craig Shipley named vice president/international scouting and special assistant to the general manager.

The release, issued yesterday afternoon, offered some at-times contradictory remarks from the principals. Epstein and Lucchino plan to make themselves available to the media today.

Speaking on behalf of the partners and management of the club, principal owner John Henry said, "We are exceedingly happy to have Theo returning as general manager. Despite the attempts of some to portray Theo's return as a win for someone and a loss for someone else, this is a win-win situation."

Henry further attempted to downplay reports of a power struggle between Epstein and Lucchino, claiming such stories were "simply mythology."

"I can assure you as we move forward that Larry's role has not changed at all, and no general manager in baseball could ask for more autonomy than Theo has. This has never been an issue for us -- only in the media."

Still, Henry hinted that there were issues in the fall, when "there was enough discord then to give Theo legitimate reasons to move on."

Since then, Henry said, the organization has "hammered out a vision and philosophy that we believe will give us the best opportunity to cope with the mounting challenges facing the most successful major-league baseball clubs."

As he did somewhat tearfully at Epstein's farewell press conference on Nov. 2, Henry blamed himself for not taking a more forceful hand in the stewardship of the ballclub.

"(But) I have a responsibility to ensure that divergent views and our overall direction lead to a better and stronger organization," he said.

Chairman Tom Werner saluted Epstein and Lucchino, noting his "respect for both of them has significantly increased as I have witnessed them work through issues which have resulted in a strong, shared commitment going forward. We are a more united leadership group today, and I am very confident that this will translate into both on-field and off-field success."

Lucchino, who conducted numerous interviews with candidates to replace Epstein and was rebuffed by Henry and Werner in his effort to hire former Montreal Expos and Baltimore Orioles executive Jim Beattie, praised Epstein's return, noting it made the Red Sox "a stronger, deeper, bolder and more effective organization."

The Red Sox' CEO, who first hired Epstein as an intern with the Orioles, acknowledged that "friction" existed between him and Epstein last fall.

"During the intervening months, there has developed an even greater degree of comfort between ownership and management on the one hand, and on the other the talented, dedicated people who labor tirelessly and effectively in our baseball operations' department, including Theo," Lucchino said. "While we will continue to have internal discourse and debate regarding specific baseball matters, a guiding long-term baseball operations philosophy has developed."

"We have implemented new mechanisms which enhance internal communication and which streamline external communication. Over this period, walls have crumbled, perceptions of one another have changed, and appreciation of one another has grown. As an enhanced sense of (team) has emerged, we have rediscovered that, whatever our differences may have been, baseball is at the center of our operations and our lives, and working towards the success of the Red Sox is a commitment which all of us share."

Lucchino said the events of the last three months had taken on "a melodramatic soap opera quality."

Epstein referenced "fundamental disagreements among members of upper management with respect to organizational philosophy, approaches and priorities," which led to his decision to walk away from the club.

"This lack of a shared vision," he added, "plus the stress of a far-too-public negotiation, strained some relationships, including mine with Larry Lucchino. Regretfully, we all made mistakes, and, despite our best efforts, we were not able to get on the same page."

Now, Epstein added, the Sox' management team has a "shared vision for the future of the organization, including the role of the baseball operations department."

Hoyer said he and Cherington "were not only aware, but also quite hopeful, that this structure could pave the way for Theo's return. We are thrilled that it has."

smcadam@projo.com / (401) 277-7340