Days after reports emerged announcing Theo Epstein's imminent arrival in Chicago, Epstein has still yet to appear publicly at Wrigley Field.

Negotiations between the Cubs and Red Sox seemed to reach a sticking point over the weekend, but according to the Chicago media, talks have progressed since Wednesday, and a deal for Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein seems imminent once more. The newest twist in the Epstein saga includes Padres general manager and former Red Sox assistant general manager Jed Hoyer leaving the Padres to become the Cubs GM while Epstein would be named president of baseball operations.

Hoyer was the assistant general manager in Boston from 2005-09 and was involved in the deal that brought Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell to Boston.

Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago.com writes that despite a traditional ban on major announcements during the World Series, the Cubs may be able to announce Theo Epstein as their new president of baseball operations with Jed Hoyer serving as his GM. Levine also asserts sources told him the deal could be done Thursday.

David Kaplan of CSN Chicago reports significant progress has been made in negotiations between the Red Sox and Cubs and the deal could be announced as soon as Friday as long as MLB commissioner Bud Selig lets the teams make a major announcement during the World Series.

Patrick Mooney of CSN Chicago speculates on compensation, saying that the Cubs are overprotective of their farm system because they don’t have many top-end prospects and do not want to lose the few they do have, especially after the Rays took high-end prospects Chris Archer, Hak-Ju Lee and Brandon Guyer in last winter’s deal for Matt Garza.

Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune examines the possibility of Jed Hoyer joining the Cubs by exploring Hoyer’s relationship with Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts and investigating the moves he made both with the Red Sox and the Padres.

Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune gives a less optimistic picture of negotiations between the Cubs and Red Sox, saying MLB commissioner Bud Selig may enter talks in order to facilitate a deal because he is fed up with the compensation delays.

At least one man in Chicago is not happy with the idea of Epstein as president and Hoyer as GM. Steve Rosenbloom of the Chicago Tribune opines that he does not want an interim GM (Epstein) in order to get a real GM (Hoyer). He also wonders why it has to be this difficult to replace former GM Jim Hendry.

The Chicago Sun-Times bucks the trend of suggesting a deal could be completed on Thursday for Epstein when Chris De Luca claims that despite some progression in talks, the deal may not be completed until next week. The Sun-Times also reveals sources who say Epstein may be interested in bringing vice president of business affairs Jonathan Gilula with him to Chicago. Gilula was a key contributor in the Fenway Park renovations.

The Chicago Sun-Times also warns that Epstein may not be an immediate hit in Chicago, as sometimes players can be wild cards that unfairly reflect on the GM who acquires them.

Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times writes that progress continues in the Epstein talks and says the Red Sox are now considering cash compensation as part of the deal, something they initially refused to consider.