Title: Craig Breslow Considers Top Baseball Operations Job with the Boston Red Sox
Subtitle: Cubs Assistant GM, Former Pitcher Weighs Pros and Cons of Joining Boston Red Sox
Date: [Insert Date]
Sources familiar with the search process have revealed that the Boston Red Sox are engaged in advanced discussions with Craig Breslow to fill their No. 1 job in baseball operations. Breslow, a rising executive with a Yale degree and a World Series pedigree, has been selective about his next opportunity, making his own calculations about the potential benefits and drawbacks of working at Fenway Park.
However, the position at the Red Sox comes with several complicating factors for any external candidate. The franchise forced out two previous executives, Ben Cherington and Dave Dombrowski, within a couple of years of winning World Series titles in 2013 and 2018. They subsequently hired Chaim Bloom to rebuild their farm system, only to dismiss him last month with one season remaining on his five-year contract.
Although Breslow seems to be a strong contender, he must navigate working within a well-established organization with long-time employees in high-level positions. The recent decisions made by the Red Sox, including the rehiring of manager Alex Cora for the next season, indicate that Boston will not be a blank canvas for an external candidate like Breslow. Moreover, other potential candidates with similar backgrounds have declined interviews for the job, suggesting the challenging nature of the role.
Breslow, who spent 12 years in the majors as a left-handed reliever, previously discussed his post-playing options with other teams including the Chicago Cubs and the New York Yankees. However, Theo Epstein personally recruited him to join the Cubs front office in 2019, offering him the chance to learn more about baseball operations and pursue his areas of interest.
During his time with the Cubs, Breslow became a key figure in the pitching department, earning several promotions and eventually becoming an assistant general manager and the senior vice president of pitching. He played a crucial role in rebuilding the organization’s pitching development infrastructure, evaluating free agents, and managing the day-to-day operations of the major-league club.
Breslow has developed strong relationships with Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer and manager David Ross, who were former teammates with him on the 2013 World Series-winning Red Sox team. The freedom given by Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts to allocate resources and structure the department has allowed Breslow to make significant contributions.
Under Breslow’s tenure, the Cubs have made substantial progress in their pitching strategies and development. They have seen the emergence of homegrown talents such as Justin Steele and international free agents like Adbert Alzolay and Javier Assad. The team’s farm system has improved, and promising prospects like Jordan Wicks and Cade Horton are further evidence of a bright future.
While Breslow is on track for a top executive position elsewhere, such as the Texas Rangers’ Chris Young, his potential departure would be a testament to the Cubs organization’s ability to develop talented individuals or create a working environment that employees are content to remain in.
As Breslow weighs his options and the Red Sox continue their search for a new head of baseball operations, both parties will need to carefully assess whether this potential partnership is the right fit for the future success of the franchise.
(Photo Caption: Craig Breslow attending the 2023 Red Sox Winter Weekend [Photo Credit: Billie Weiss / Boston Red Sox / Getty Images])