Why the Red Sox are targeting Cubs executive Craig Breslow for a top job at Fenway Park
The rationale behind the Red Sox’s pursuit of Cubs executive Craig Breslow for a key position at Fenway Park.
The Chicago Cubs anticipated that Craig Breslow would eventually be hired by another major-league team to serve as their manager. The Cubs were also aware that Breslow, a young executive with a Yale degree and World Series experience, would be picky about his next job.
Breslow must be weighing the benefits and drawbacks of working at Fenway Park just as the Boston Red Sox must decide whether Breslow is the right fit.
According to people familiar with the hiring process, Breslow has been interviewing for the Red Sox’s No. Baseball operations only had one position.
But any external candidate will face a number of challenges with that opportunity.
After winning the 2013 World Series, the Red Sox fired Ben Cherington two years later.
Less than a year after the Red Sox won the 2018 World Series, Dave Dombrowski was fired.
Chaim Bloom was hired by the Red Sox to rebuild their farm system and oversee their major-league payroll, and through a methodical process, they were still able to advance to the American League Championship Series in 2021.
With one season remaining on his five-year contract, the Red Sox then let Bloom go last month.
Boston won’t be a blank slate. The Red Sox have already hinted that Alex Cora will be back in charge for the upcoming campaign.
They also have a number of long-term employees in high-level positions in their baseball operations department. Two current general managers with ties to New England and backgrounds comparable to Breslow’s.
