Former Red Sox GM Explains Departure From Team

Former Boston Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein says the team's "crushing" September collapse had nothing to with his departure to the Chicago Cubs.

Epstein said in an opinion piece written for The Boston Globe on Tuesday that he intended to leave the Red Sox in 2012 when his contract expired, but the departure of manager Terry Francona after September's "collective failure" made him think that it would be better if a new general manager picked a new field manager.

He says the Cubs, with their "passionate fans, dedicated ownership, tradition and World Series drought represented the ultimate new challenge."

Epstein called his tenure with the Red Sox a "privilege."

He ended by saying he hoped the Red Sox and Cubs meet in the World Series in the near future.