Soon after the shock of the Cubs' announcement that president of baseball operations Theo Epstein will be stepping down came this question from many observers on Twitter: Did Epstein resign in order to pursue either the Mets' or Phillies' front-office positions?

The answer appears to be no. A source told MLB.com's Jon Paul Morosi immediately after the Cubs' announcement that Epstein intends to sit out the 2021 season.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan and the New York Post's Joel Sherman reported that Epstein sent a letter out to "Cubs Friends" that detailed the reasons behind his decision to resign. Epstein indicated he wants to take this summer off with family and work for nonprofits, adding, "I do plan on having a third chapter leading a baseball organization someday, though I do not expect it to be next year."

Epstein is still only 46 years old, and he already stands among just five executives who have led multiple MLB franchises to a World Series title, having done so with the Red Sox and Cubs. He is a believer in legendary NFL coach Bill Walsh’s maxim that a coach or front-office member should look for a change of scenery after 10 years with an organization, Morosi notes, and 2021 would have marked the end of Epstein’s first decade in Chicago.

So no, Epstein does not appear to be throwing his hat into the ring for the high-profile openings in the National League East. But this may not be the last time we see him take center stage in a baseball front office.