Report: Craig Breslow the front-runner for Red Sox head of baseball operations position

BOSTON -- As the calendar nears November, the Red Sox are getting closer to finding a new baseball boss.

According to Alex Speier of The Boston Globe, former Red Sox reliever Craig Breslow is considered the favorite to become the next head of baseball operations in Boston.

"Multiple industry sources believe that Cubs assistant GM Craig Breslow is the clear frontrunner in the search to lead the Sox baseball operations department," Speier reported. "The Sox informed candidates on Monday whether they're advancing to the second round of the process."

Speier added that it is not known if anyone other than Breslow is still being considered.

The 43-year-old Breslow played in parts of 12 MLB seasons for the Padres, Red Sox, Indians, Twins, A's, Diamondbacks, and Marlins. He had two separate stints with Boston, Minnesota, and Cleveland. After his playing career ended, he worked in the Cubs' front office under Theo Epstein as the director of strategic initiatives for baseball operations, advancing to director of pitching/special assistant to the president and general manager in 2019. Since 2020, he's been the team's assistant general manager and vice president of pitching.

A Connecticut native, Breslow graduted from Yale in 2002 with a degree in molecular biophysics and biochemistry. Breslow first played for the Red Sox in 2006, making 13 relief appearances in just his second big league season. He made the Triple-A All-Star team with the Pawtucket Red Sox in 2007 and earned a World Series ring despite never pitching for the big league club that year. He returned to Boston from 2012-15, winning a second ring in 2013, when he posted a 2.45 ERA in 10 relief appearances.