The Chicago Cubs have offered Dale Sveum their vacant manager job, according to an ESPN report, but Sveum could still wait on an offer from the Boston Red Sox.
Though the Cubs beat the Red Sox to an offer for Sveum, a source told ESPN that he "doubted" Sveum would accept the position with the Cubs without giving Boston a chance to make an offer.
The Red Sox met with Sveum Wednesday afternoon in Milwaukee, but as of Wednesday night had not offered Sveum, or anyone else, their managerial opening. Sveum was considered the clear front-runner to replace Terry Francona in Boston, but that's only if he chooses not to accept Chicago's offer.
Boston general manager Ben Cherington was scheduled to travel to Cuba on Thursday to meet with Red Sox personnel and oversee a workout for Cuban prospect Yeonis Cespedes. Cherington told reporters the manager search would "take a little breather" while he was gone.
Asked by ESPN if the Red Sox were out of the running for Sveum, Cherington replied via text message, "If he accepts the job with the Cubs we would be."
A source close to Sveum told ESPN his gut feeling was that Sveum preferred the Chicago job if given the option between both teams. Cubs brass Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer were seen entering Sveum's hotel room Thursday afternoon.
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