Will World Series help resolve Epstein deal?

With the start of the World Series closing in, will today be the day that Boston frees Theo Epstein to join the Chicago Cubs?

Maybe. And maybe not.

Locked into negotiations over compensation the Cubs must pay Boston to get Epstein to run their club, the two teams apparently do not have a timetable to follow, although the pressure is climbing since Major League Baseball doesn’t allow deals to be announced while their fall classic is played.

Here’s the latest in the saga:Ÿ The Boston Globe reports today that the two sides were not close to finalizing a deal as of late Monday. And with Major League Baseball prohibiting major announcements during the World Series, the two side would have to wait until after the World Series is completed.Ÿ ESPNChicago.com is reporting that the Red Sox were not interested in a cash settlement from the Cubs and asked for right-handed starter Matt Garza to close the deal.To break the stalemate, a baseball source also told the Boston Globe that the Red Sox now are focusing on Chicago#146;s top prospects: righthander Trey McNutt, who has a fastball in the low 90s and played Double-A ball this past season but battled blister problems; centerfielder Brett Jackson, who started a Tennessee and moved up to Triple-A Iowa this season; third baseman Josh Vitters, a 22-year-old who was the third overall pick in 2007 and is likely targeted for a year of Triple-A with the Cubs; and outfielder Matt Szczur.