An update to the Boston Red Sox’s interest in Chicago Cubs AGM/VP of Pitching Craig Breslow, which reportedly rose to the level of an interview for their top open baseball operations position.
And if you’re hoping Breslow stays with the Cubs, it’s not an encouraging update.
Patrick Mooney reports that the Red Sox are in “advanced discussions” with Craig Breslow to join their front office, possibly for that top baseball operations job. It doesn’t sound like it’s a done deal just yet – indeed, Mooney contemplates the possibility that the Red Sox could be trying to hire two top execs, with someone on top of Breslow (in which case he might not leave the Cubs). But it does sound quite serious, and there are plenty of reasons to believe Breslow would be a highly compelling candidate for the Red Sox opening.
The Cubs weren’t going to be able to keep Breslow, who joined the front office in 2019, forever unless there were a path for more promotions. With him already behind only GM Carter Hawkins and President Jed Hoyer, I’m not sure what that path looks like. So maybe something like this was inevitable, and you would just hope that (1) the Cubs have already institutionalized everything they can from Breslow, and (2) they use the opportunity to hire another up-and-coming brilliant pitching mind.
More soon, I imagine.
UPDATE: A report out of Boston confirms the interest, and also confirms that it’s possible the Red Sox would be trying to hire someone to be president of baseball operations, and then Breslow to serve under that person as the general manager. It’s clear from reading the MassLive report that the Red Sox want Breslow for his aptitude in developing pitching, as he has done so well with the Cubs, but it is less clear that they would want him for the top job.
All I can think about is that stray – and refuted – Peter Gammons report from back in September that indicated Breslow was going to be joining the Red Sox to direct their pitching, seemingly much in the way he has with the Cubs. Could have report really have been SO WRONG and SO OUT OF TURN? Or was it just early? Is it possible Breslow is being considered for a hybrid role with the Red Sox, as a GM and also to direct their pitching program? I say that because typically you don’t see execs move laterally from one organization to another, unless they are a free agent, of course. Breslow’s contract status is, to me, currently unknown.
