Red Sox hire Craig Breslow to become the next chief baseball officer
The search for the next leader of the Red Sox baseball operations department has come to an end. The Red Sox will hire Cubs assistant general manager Craig Breslow to replace Chaim Bloom.
Reports that the Red Sox were in advanced stages of negotiations with Breslow surfaced last week, according to The Athletic. On Tuesday night, reports began to circulate that the Red Sox had zoned in on Breslow and an offer had been made to the former left-handed reliever.
Breslow emerged as the favorite during the interview process. He was one of eight known candidates to interview for the job. Initially the 43-year-old seemed like a dark horse candidate, but after getting a recommendation from Theo Epstein who hired him in Chicago, he began to emerge from the field.
The former Sox lefty has 12 years of big league experience as a player and was part of the 2013 World Series championship team. The former Yale alum rose quickly through the ranks with the Cubs after joining their organization. People around baseball have considered Breslow a candidate to someday run his own front office.
Breslow is believed to be the first Red Sox player since Haywood Sullivan, to run the front office. Sullivan was general manager from 1977-1984.
Breslow will join Texas’ Chris Young, Seattle’s Jerry Dipoto and new White Sox GM Chris Getz as the only four former players who are currently leading baseball operations departments with the game.
The southpaw had two stints as a member of the Red Sox. Pitching in 2006 and 2012-2015, where he emerged as a weapon out of the bullpen during their World Series run in 2013. Breslow pitched to a 1.81 ERA in 59 â…” innings during that seasons magical run.
Breslow joined the Cubs following the 2018 season. He was the director of strategic initiatives for baseball operations and then quickly elevated through their front office. He has been credited for his impact on Chicago’s pitching program both in the majors and minors.
Boston’s new front office boss is considered one of the brightest minds in baseball.
With Breslow’s track record with the Cubs pitching program, one of his top priorities will be to fix the Red Sox overall program. Boston has struggled to develop starting pitching over the years.
Breslow becomes the fourth baseball leader in Boston since Epstein departed in 2011. The lack of job security chased away numerous qualified candidates but not Breslow.
Boston lands a first time leader for the second straight time. Bloom was a baseball lieutenant within the Rays organization. It’s not known yet whether Breslow brings in a general manager, reports speculate whether Eddie Romero will be the No. 2 in charge. There’s also chatter that Neal Huntington could become the general manager with his extensive baseball background.
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