Bud Selig

Bud Selig to complete compensation for Theo Epstein

Associated Press

ST. LOUIS — Baseball commissioner Bud Selig expects he will have to decide what compensation the Boston Red Sox should receive for allowing general manager Theo Epstein to leave and join the Chicago Cubs.

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Epstein quit Boston with a year on his contract to became the president of baseball operations for the Cubs. If Boston and Chicago can’t reach an agreement by Tuesday, the issue goes to Selig.

“If I had to guess today, it’ll be another thing that I have to deal with on November 1st,” Selig said Friday night before Game 7 of the World Series.

On other topics, Selig:

• hopes Albert Pujols, who is eligible for free agency after the World Series, re-signs with the St. Louis Cardinals. “I hope Albert stays in St. Louis, I really do. but that’s his judgment to make.”

• refused to discuss MLB’s attempt to get a U.S. Bankruptcy Judge to order owner Frank McCourt to sell the Los Angeles Dodgers. “We’re in litigation. … We’ll just keep working.”

• said MLB wouldn’t set a league-wide policy for banning alcohol in clubhouses. “I think each club has to make their own decision.”

• remains confident about bargaining for a labor contract to replace the one that expires Dec. 11 but said “there’s a lot of work to be done yet.” Management’s desire for fixed signing bonuses for amateur draft picks is the major remaining issue.

• said the new York Mets have not repaid the $25 million loan they borrowed from MLB last offseason. “I do have a lot of worries today, but frankly I’m happy to say the Mets are not one of them.”

• said video review by umpires could expand to fair and foul calls next season.

• said MLB will top 2010’s revenue of $7 billion.

CARDINALS: St. Louis picked up a two-year, $21 million contract on injured pitcher Adam Wainwright, helping set their rotation for next year.

Wainwright, a 20-game winner in 2010, is rehabbing from elbow surgery in February that sidelined him for the entire season.

DODGERS: Los Angeles pitcher Hong-Chih Kuo underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left elbow Friday to remove a loose body and scar tissue.

He will begin his throwing program in six to eight weeks and be ready in time for spring training.

TIGERS: Detroit exercised its option on closer Jose Valverde.

Valverde signed a $14 million, two-year deal in 2010 with the club holding a $9 million option for 2012.

ANGELS: a person with knowledge of the hire says the team chose Diamondbacks executive Jerry Dipoto to be their new general manager.

Dipoto spent the past six seasons in Arizona’s front office, serving as interim GM in 2010.

OBITUARY: Ricky Adams, a utility infielder on the Los Angeles Angels’ 1982 Western Division championship team, died Friday after a long battle with cancer. He was 52.