Theo Epstein went to work at his Fenway Park office Thursday, as usual, awaiting his coronation at Wrigley Field.

Jed Hoyer did likewise in San Diego, awaiting his escape from paradise.

The Cubs’ new front office tag team has yet to become official, but no one was denying the Epstein-Hoyer show is coming soon to a baseball shrine near you, according to the Chicago Tribune.

In the vision of Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts, the two Red Sox expatriates will become the Cubs’ version of “Butch and Sundance,” taking risks, outsmarting rivals and bringing lasting change to a franchise mired in a century-long rut.

Speculation over when Epstein will be announced officially as head of baseball operations became a hot topic of debate Thursday, as the Cubs prepared for the possibility of a Friday news conference in case a deal could be announced.

But Red Sox owner John Henry, perturbed the Cubs seemingly were leaking news the deal was done before it was done, texted the Boston Globe it was “not close.”

ESPNBoston.com’s Gordon Edes reported via Twitter that the Hoyer part was “done,” and that the Epstein compensation package was hung up as the Red Sox waited for medical reports on players. As of late Thursday evening, no news conference was scheduled.

As for Hoyer, the Padres’ GM was silent Thursday amid reports he was leaving for a lateral position under Epstein.

Story continues below

The Cubs apparently won’t owe the Padres compensation, with CEO Jeff Moorad willingly agreeing to let Hoyer leave for a more lucrative job.

Ortiz wins Clemente award, pledges allegiance to Boston

St. Louis • Boston’s David Ortiz has won this year’s Roberto Clemente award, given annually to a player who gives back through community service and also excels on the field.

Ortiz is the second straight Red Sox player to win the honor. Tim Wakefield won last year.

Ortiz, eligible for free agency after the World Series, hit .309 with 29 homers and 96 RBIs. He said given the turmoil, it’s too early to start talking contract with the Red Sox.

Theo Epstein could be minutes or hours away from being introduced as the new president and/or general manger of the Chicago Cubs.

Or days. It really depends on who’s talking.

A FOXSports.com story Thursday suggested Epstein is close to a deal with the Cubs, who haven’t won a World Series since 1908, and fired GM Jim Hendry on Aug. 19 before a 71-91 finish to the season.

In Boston, the Herald newspaper reported on behalf of a top Red Sox offiical Thursday that an imminent resolution to the Epstein compensation talks with the Cubs is false.

“There seems to be a fundamental divide in the way the two clubs look at this,” the source told the Herald, adding there hasn’t been progress of late and that a resolution isn’t expected soon.

Early in the compensation talks it was reported the Red Sox asked for top starter Matt Garza (10 wins, 3.32 ERA, 197 strikeouts in 2011), but it’s believed the teams will settle on a package of prospects and/or cash and not major league players.

Epstein, 37, has one year left on his contract with Boston.

Should an agreement be reached Thursday, Major League Baseball could grant the Cubs permission to hold a news conference during Friday’s off-day in the World Series, but the commissioner frowns on teams making major announcements during this time period.

Red Sox owner John Henry also told the Boston Globe that a deal is “not close.”

Epstein just finished his ninth season with the Red Sox, who missed the playoffs following a record collapse, going 7-20 in September.

Boston hadn’t won a championship since 1918 until doing it in 2004, Epstein’s second year as GM. The Red Sox also won it all in 2007.

If Epstein joins the Cubs, it’s believed he would hire San Diego Padres GM Jed Hoyer for the same role in Chicago.

In Boston, there has been talk that Red Sox assistant GM Ben Cherington would succeed Epstein.

“He’s a very smart guy and he’s learned a lot working under Theo,” former New York Mets GM Omar Minaya said of Cherington in a recent interview with the Globe. “He knows how to deal with the media and he’ll be his own man.”

Cherington was originally hired in Boston by one-time GM Dan Duquette in 1997 as an intern on the team’s scouting and player-development staff. Two years later, Cherington was a full-time scout with the team and remained in the organization when Henry bought the Red Sox in 2002.

“Very bright, smart, definitely a guy who can evaluate talent,” is how Duquette described the 37-year-old Cherington to the Globe.

When Epstein left the organization for a period in 2005, Cherington and Hoyer were named co-GMs.

Kerry Wood is returning to the Chicago Cubs, agreeing to a one-year, $1.5 million contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.

The person spoke Thursday on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not yet been announced.

Wood pitched for the Cubs from 1998-08, winning NL Rookie of the Year honor as a starter.

OTHER MLB NOTES:

Oakland acquired outfielder Josh Willingham on Thursday from the Washington Nationals, who received a pair of prospects in the trade.

The Boston Red Sox have signed right-handed reliever Matt Albers to a one-year contract while also working out a deal with former Chicago White Sox closer Bobby Jenks.

A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that Japanese batting champion Tsuyoshi Nishioka and the Minnesota Twins have reached preliminary agreement on a three-year contract worth about $10 million,

Magglio Ordonez and the Detroit Tigers have agreed to a $10 million, one-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations said.

The Colorado Rockies have acquired catcher Jose Morales from Minnesota, sending minor league pitcher Paul Bargas to the Twins.

Kerry Wood, seen in 2008, could be returning to the Chicago Cubs, a source told the Associated Press. (John Bazemore/Associated Press)

Kerry Wood is returning to the Chicago Cubs, agreeing to a $1.5-million US, one-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.

The person spoke Thursday on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not yet been announced.

Wood pitched for the Cubs from 1998-08, winning NL Rookie of the Year honours that first season when he was a hard-throwing starter.

He signed with the Indians as a free agent in December 2008 and was traded from Cleveland to the New York Yankees last July. Wood became Mariano Rivera’s primary setup man and was 2-0 with a 0.69 earned-run average in 24 appearances with New York.

Wood’s career has been slowed by numerous injuries. He is expected to be a late-inning reliever and a bridge to closer Carlos Marmol.

In 12 seasons, Wood is 83-68 with a 3.65 ERA and 62 saves — 34 of those with the Cubs when he was their closer in 2008.