According to multiple industry sources, Red Sox GM Theo Epstein will have some familiar members of his baseball operations staff once he joins the Cubs. Epstein is expected to be named something along the lines of president of baseball operations, with Padres GM Jed Hoyer – who worked with Epstein and the Sox from 2002-09, rising from the position of intern to Assistant GM — leaving San Diego to become general manager of the Cubs. As first reported by FoxSports.com, those sources also confirm that Padres Assistant GM Jason McLeod, formerly the director of amateur scouting in Boston, is expected to go to Chicago in a senior management position in baseball operations.

With two of his most trusted evaluators from Boston joining him in Chicago, Epstein will have a familiar operating environment. Given the success of the Red Sox in building their farm system under Epstein and the Padres’ similar success in doing so in two years under Hoyer (with McLeod playing key roles for both GMs in those cities), it will be interesting to see if the Cubs find it easier to compromise in negotiations with the Sox about compensation for Epstein’s departure.

After all, some of the most discussed names in a potential deal are viewed as solid but not exceptional prospects. For instance, Brett Jackson — who is reportedly off limits — has the sort of well-rounded skill set and ceiling as a player like Ryan Kalish who is already in the Red Sox system. One scout referred to right-hander Trey McNutt, who has reportedly has become subject to something of a tug-of-war between the Sox and Cubs in talks, as “Kyle Weiland with more velocity,” meaning a pitcher who might be a back-of-the-rotation starter or a late-innings reliever, but not someone who anchors a pitching staff.

The group of Epstein, Hoyer and McLeod would undoubtedly have its sights on creating a Chicago player development machine that would yield higher-impact prospects than those who have been discussed. As such, it will be interesting to see whether the Cubs and Red Sox will soon find it easier to reach agreement on the compensation agreement.

With Hoyer and McLeod leaving San Diego, Padres Vice President of Baseball Operations Josh Byrnes – formerly the Assistant GM in Boston under Epstein, and then the general manager in Arizona under current Padres owner Jeff Moorad — will become the GM of the Padres.