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Chicago Cubs president Theo Epstein named MLB Executive of the Year

By The Sports Xchange
President of baseball operations Theo Epstein speaks during the 2016 World Series Champion celebration rally at the Grant Park on November 4, 2016 in Chicago. The Cubs won the World Series for the first time in 108 years. Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski/UPI
1 of 3 | President of baseball operations Theo Epstein speaks during the 2016 World Series Champion celebration rally at the Grant Park on November 4, 2016 in Chicago. The Cubs won the World Series for the first time in 108 years. Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski/UPI | License Photo

The offseason spoils are already pouring in for the World Series champion Chicago Cubs.

Theo Epstein, president of baseball operations for a Cubs team that snapped a 108-year title drought, was selected by the Sporting News as the Major League Baseball Executive of the Year.

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The honor, voted upon by 56 major league executives, was awarded Monday at the general managers meetings in Scottsdale, Ariz. Epstein received 13 votes to top Cleveland Indians president Chris Antonetti (nine votes), New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman (eight votes) and Texas Rangers GM Jon Daniels (seven votes).

Cubs GM Jed Hoyer tied for seventh with two votes.

Epstein, 42, previously built the 2004 Boston Red Sox team that ended that club's 86-year championship drought. He guided the Red Sox to another title in 2007. He took over in Chicago ahead of the 2012 season, and the Cubs endured three more losing years before making the playoffs in 2015 and then going a baseball-best 103-58 this year.

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Acquisitions to the club for 2016 included left fielder Ben Zobrist, right-hander John Lackey and right fielder Jason Heyward, all acquired as free agents; and infielder Starlin Castro, picked up in a trade. During the season, Epstein swung deals to bring in left-handed relievers Mike Montgomery (from the Seattle Mariners) and Aroldis Chapman (from the Yankees).

Chapman got the win in Game 7 of the World Series against the Indians, and Montgomery got the final out in the 10th inning for his first major league save, regular season or postseason.

The only previous Cubs executives to win the Sporting News award were Phil Wrigley (1945) and Dallas Green (1984).

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