The Red Sox changing Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow’s title to president of baseball operations “reflects a more standard title” and could “make it easier to bring in front office talent from outside the organization,” according to Alex Speier of the BOSTON GLOBE. The change comes three years after Breslow was hired to run the Red Sox’ baseball operations department, and less than two months after the team announced it was picking up his contract options for 2029 and 2030. Speier reported the switch “occurred in recent weeks without a formal announcement.” With former assistant GMs Paul Toboni and Taylor Smith gone, Breslow has “discussed front office additions as one of his top priorities.” Red Sox President & CEO Sam Kennedy said that the renaming of Breslow’s role also “serves as a reflection of the view of team owners of his leadership of the baseball operations department.” Breslow “expressed appreciation” for the title change, though he noted that it “didn’t meaningfully affect his job” (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/11).
BUSINESS AS USUAL: In Boston, Mac Cerullo notes the title change brings Breslow “more in line with the rest of the league where that title is commonly used to signify a club’s top decision-maker.” Cerullo: “From a practical perspective nothing about Breslow’s job will change. He will still lead the Red Sox’s baseball operations department and be the responsible for executing trades, free agent signings and everything else he’s done for the past three seasons.” The move could also “set the table for further reorganization of the Red Sox front office,” including the hiring of a GM or the promotion of internal executives. Breslow said that there “isn’t a premeditated next step but changes like that are always possible” (BOSTON HERALD, 11/12).