The Boston Red Sox’s quest for a new leader in baseball operations is picking up speed, with one candidate emerging as the frontrunner. According to reports by Alex Speier of the Boston Globe and Chris Cotillo of MassLive, Craig Breslow, the assistant general manager of the Chicago Cubs, is currently the top choice for the role.
Speier indicates that the Red Sox have extended an offer to Breslow for the position, although it’s unclear whether he has officially accepted at this point. Cotillo suggests that the hiring process is gaining momentum, and an announcement could be imminent.
Craig Breslow, aged 43, is a Yale graduate who enjoyed a 12-year career as a reliever in Major League Baseball. He played for seven different organizations but is most renowned for his time with the Red Sox. During his five seasons in Boston, he played a pivotal role with a remarkable 1.81 ERA for the 2013 World Series-winning team.
Following his retirement as a player in 2018, Breslow joined the Chicago Cubs in a front-office capacity, initially as the director of strategic initiatives for baseball operations. He later became the director of pitching and has held the position of assistant general manager in Jed Hoyer’s front office for the past three years.
The Red Sox parted ways with their chief baseball officer, Chaim Bloom, as the season came to a close. They have yet to announce the specific title for the new head of baseball operations. With Breslow holding the title of assistant general manager, the Red Sox could promote him to the role of general manager, either as the head of the front office or as the second-in-command under a newly appointed president of baseball operations. The Boston Red
Cotillo suggests that the Red Sox might consider making two new front office hires, following the common trend of a president/GM structure seen in many other teams. These appointments may not necessarily occur simultaneously, as they could follow a pattern similar to the Detroit Tigers, who left the GM position vacant for a season to allow the incoming president of baseball operations to choose their top assistant.
Even if an agreement is reached in the coming hours, it’s unlikely that the Red Sox will make a formal announcement tonight. MLB discourages teams from releasing significant news on the day of postseason games. With two off days scheduled between the NLCS Game 7 and the first game of the World Series, a formal hiring announcement may be anticipated for tomorrow or Thursday.