MESA, Ariz. -- The Theo Epstein compensation saga between the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox finally came to a close Thursday, albeit a slightly controversial one.

The Cubs received 19-year-old first baseman Jair Bogaerts from the Red Sox to finish all aspects of the deal, but the conversation over the entire episode might not be complete.


Because Epstein came to the Cubs this winter when he was still under contract as the Red Sox general manager, the clubs agreed that compensation was in order.

After much disagreement, and Commissioner Bud Selig prepared to get involved, the teams settled on a scenario where the Cubs would not only give up mid-level prospect but that the clubs would also exchange players to be named later.

The prospect was right-handed pitcher Chris Carpenter, who went to the Red Sox early in spring training. The Cubs then sent their player to be named later, right-handed pitcher Aaron Kurcz. Then on Thursday Bogaerts was sent to the Cubs.

That final move, though, came one day after the Red Sox announced that Carpenter will have surgery to remove a bone spur from his throwing elbow.

“We just found out about that,” Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said Thursday. “It’s something you never want to happen in any trade. You want both sides to feel good. That’s not a great thing to have happen both for Chris and the Red Sox. It’s something we just heard about and we’re looking into it, but I wouldn’t read anything into that.”

Asked if Carpenter’s injury means the compensation deal might be restructured, Hoyer gave a succinct, “No.”