The Red Sox’s long national nightmare is over.
The boys in Beantown have themselves a new head of baseball operations: Craig Breslow, previously the assistant general manager for the Chicago Cubs.
The Boston Globe reported Tuesday that Breslow, a former Red Sox reliever, has accepted the offer to succeed Chaim Bloom, who was fired in September.
The Red Sox had trouble finding candidates interested in the job, with several potential hires, including former Miami Marlins general manager Kim Ng, passing on the opportunity.
MassLive.com reported some possible candidates did not like the amount of turnover the Red Sox have experienced in the front office over the last decade.
Boston has won four World Series titles in this century, with three different general managers: Theo Epstein (2004 and 2007), Ben Cherington (2013) and Dave Dombrowski (2018).
Less than a year after beating the Dodgers in the 2018 World Series, the Red Sox fired Dombrowski, who landed on his feet with the Phillies.
He built a roster in Philadelphia that stands one win away from a second consecutive appearance in the Fall Classic.
Craig Breslow is headed back to Boston to become the head of baseball operations. Getty ImagesThe Red Sox hired Bloom from the Rays with the hope that his focus on analytics and cost-controlled roster moves would launch a new era of success in Boston.
Nevertheless, the Red Sox finished in last place in the American League East in three of the last four seasons.
Breslow is no stranger in Boston as he was part of the 2013 World Series winner.
The Red Sox were one of seven clubs Breslow played for over his 12-year MLB career.
He also spent time with the Twins, A’s, Guardians, Diamondbacks, Padres and Marlins, compiling a 3.45 ERA in 576 career appearances.
A New England native (New Haven, Conn.) who attended Yale University, Breslow moved into MLB management in 2019 when he was named the Cubs’ director of strategic initiatives for baseball operations.
He was later promoted to director of pitching and special assistant to the president and general manager.
That GM? Jed Hoyer, the former Red Sox assistant general manager.
The person who hired Hoyer in Chicago? Theo Epstein, thus completing the circle of life for the Red Sox front office.
