wrote in an email.Melancons three young children -- Brookl

CLEVELAND -- Holding the World Series trophy in his right hand, Theo Epstein grinned: We dont need a plane to fly home.After putting together the first Boston Red Sox team to win the World Series in 86 years, he masterminded the Chicago Cubs first title in 108.Good chance baseballs drought-buster will be flying to Cooperstown one day for his Hall of Fame induction.Its fitting its got to be done with one of the best games of all time, he said after Wednesday nights 8-7, 10-inning thriller over the Cleveland Indians in Game 7. Just unbelievable. What a testament to our players, their grit.A sports editor of the Yale Daily News with a 1995 degree, Epstein interned with the Baltimore Orioles, went along with Larry Lucchino to the Padres and earned a law degree at the University of San Diego. He was hired by the Red Sox under Lucchino in November 2002, at 28 the youngest general manager in major league history.Boston won the World Series in 2004 and again in 2007. Epstein quit after the 2011 season to become president of baseball operations of the Cubs, who had been bought by the Ricketts family two years earlier.After 10 years, no matter how passionate you are, you see the same issues, day after day and you are around the same people day after day, Epstein said then. You are around the same landscape day after day for 10 years and eventually you will benefit from a new landscape and fresh problems.He and general manager Jed Hoyer led a near-total makeover.Albert Almora Jr., who scored the go-ahead run on Ben Zobrists 10th-inning single, was the first player drafted under Epsteins regime, taken sixth overall in 2012. Third baseman Kris Bryant was drafted in 2013 and outfielder Kyle Schwarber in 2014, and the Cubs traded for pitcher Jake Arrieta (from Baltimore), first baseman Anthony Rizzo (San Diego) and shortstop Addison Russell (Oakland).Chicago spent on the free-agent market after the 2014 season for pitcher Jon Lester and last offseason for pitcher John Lackey, all-purpose player Ben Zobrist and outfielders Dexter Fowler and Jason Heyward.Hard-throwing closer Aroldis Chapman, who got the win after blowing a 6-3, eighth-inning lead, was acquired from the New York Yankees in July, when Mike Montgomery, who got the save, was obtained from Seattle.Catcher Willson Contreras and second baseman Javier Baez were holdovers from the administration of Jim Hendry, the Cubs GM from 2002-11.While managing against the Cubs in the World Series, Clevelands Terry Francona praised Epstein, his boss in Boston from 2004-11.Theo had the guts to hire me up there when, I dont know, I didnt have a ton of resume and they were expected to win, and he believed in me, Francona said. We went eight years of a lot of good baseball. Youve been to Boston enough to know if you can survive with somebody through eight years there, that says enough right there.Epsteins grandfather Phillip and grand-uncle Julius J. Epstein won Academy Awards along with Howard E. Koch for the screenplay of Casablanca. While his relatives earned fame for fiction, Theo had made his mark in stark reality: ending two of baseballs most notorious streaks.Our fans just deserve this so much, and all the former Cubs -- everyone, he said. This is for so many people: Ernie Banks, Ron Santo, Billy Williams, whos still here to come celebrate with us tomorrow when we see him. Were bringing the trophy home to you guys. Its been a century in the making. 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According to a report from the Winnipeg Free Press, the Bombers will name Acting GM Kyle Walters to the post full time. SAN FRANCISCO -- A thoughtful meeting in the Bay Area with the San Francisco brass and Mark Melancon didnt need much convincing. Not to mention he is already looking forward to talking nutrition and sport science with Hunter Pence, his former Houston teammate and yoga pal.I think we get a kick out of one another, Melancon said Tuesday, a day after reaching a $62 million, four-year contract with the Giants, the richest contract so far for a closer.San Francisco felt right to Melancon -- and the Giants needed him to stabilize the ninth inning.It was obvious that this organization knows how to win, and thats their top priority, Melancon said. Theyre set up with the Gold Glovers up the middle, Buster Posey, (Brandon) Crawford, (Joe) Panik. Being a groundball guy, thats a huge priority. Just the character, being on the other side, you could tell how much character there is in that other clubhouse, so be able to join it and join a group of guys that are veterans in winning, it was the total package in my opinion.He also gets to finish games following ace starters such as 2014 World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner, Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija. With a better bullpen this year, the Giants might have added another even-numbered year championship following titles in 2010, 12 and 14.San Francisco blew 32 saves, including nine in September. Five relievers combined to squander Game 4 of the NL Division Series against the eventual champion Cubs, who scored four runs in the ninth inning to win 6-5.The Giants were willing to keep their payroll above the luxury-tax threshold for a third straight year to land Melancon. After paying $1.3 million for 2015 and about $3 million more for this year, their 2017 tax payroll already projects to $196 million, with plenty of moves left to make.One of the prices of ggetting Mark was paying the tax, as well, said CEO Larry Baer, who will have an overall payroll of more than $200 million for the first time.dddddddddddd. That was a pretty easy decision because of the value we believe Mark brings to the Giants.Melancon has saved at least 30 games in each of the past three seasons, recording a majors-best 51 in 2015. He went 47 for 51 in save opportunities in 75 relief appearances last season with Pittsburgh and Washington, tied for second-most saves with Baltimores Zach Britton and the Los Angeles Dodgers Kenley Jansen.The man gets big outs! Clint Hurdle, Melancons former manager with the Pirates, wrote in an email.Melancons three young children -- Brooklyn, 5; Jack, 2 +; and 1-year-old Ella -- are already learning about the iconic, bright orange Golden Gate Bridge and their soon-to-be new home. For Melancon, having some job security for four years means so much for his family to feel settled in a city and community.I saw the reason that they are such a good organization and why they want to win so much and the effort they will put in to winning, Melancon said. Im a huge proponentHe was traded from Pittsburgh to Washington midway through last season.A true professional in all aspects of the game and a class act off the field, Hurdle said. Always hunting for an edge or a way to improve his craft.Also Tuesday, general manager Bobby Evans said the Giants were finalizing a minor league deal with right-hander Bryan Morris that includes an invitation to big league spring training. Morris was 0-0 with a 3.06 ERA in 24 appearances for the Marlins in 2016 over 17 2/3 innings.---AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report. ' ' '