The Boston Red Sox are tied for the AL Wild Card lead with two games to go, in a monumental collapse that's barred the Sox from winning back to back games since August 27. Coupled along with the Cubs GM needs, it appeared at least briefly that the Cubs had at somewhat of an outside, yet highly improbable, shot at Red Sox GM and wunderkind, Theo Epstein.

But according FOX's inside man, Ken Rosenthal, the Cubs' chances of landing Epstein are now all but gone. Here's what he had to say his column today:

If ever the Cubs had a chance to hire Theo Epstein as general manager, that chance probably is gone.

Oh, the Red Sox still might win the American League wild card, but Epstein cannot and will not run from his share of responsibility for the team’s historic flop.

Epstein, in the rare trying moments during his nine-year tenure, always has been accountable. It’s almost impossible to imagine him leaving his hometown team in a moment of epic failure — if indeed the season ends in such fashion.

“He would never be allowed back in the city of Boston,” one rival GM said Tuesday.

Rosenthal then went on to say that a source would deem it "shocking" if he left Boston, and offered Cubs fans a sign of hope from the team chasing Epstein's Red Sox, the Tampa Bay Rays:

Andrew Friedman, anyone?

Friedman, the Rays’ GM, might not want to leave Tampa Bay. He is close to owner Stuart Sternberg and team president Matt Silverman. The Rays, despite playing in the AL East, might be better than the Cubs for the next several years.

Still, if Friedman’s stock is high now, it will be even higher if the low-budget Rays make the playoffs for — get this — the third time in four seasons.

The Cubs at least must ask permission to talk with Friedman. His team, after all, is the one that keeps giving Epstein’s fits.

Epstein was a long shot anyways, and Friedman has long been the dream candidate in my opinion. It's just more than ironic that Friedman's stock is rising with his team, and passing Epstein in more ways than one.

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