Former Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski Hired In Boston
By Ashley Scoby
@AshleyScoby
Former Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski was never going to be on the market for too long after getting fired earlier this month. And now he can officially call Boston home.
According to a Red Sox release last night, Dombrowski has been hired as their president of baseball operations. The same story also notes that Boston general manager Ben Cherington declined the chance to continue in that position, but that he would help Dombrowski with the transition, which will begin immediately.
Dombrowski's firing was a shock in Detroit, as he had just led the charge for the Tigers to make several trade deadline moves that seemed to set the team up for future success.
They traded away their ace in David Price, as well as outfielder Yoenis Cespedes and pitcher Joakim Soria. But the Tigers acquired someone that many believe will be a star one day, in left-hander Daniel Norris, along with several other young prospects. In a story about the Price trade for USA TODAY's For The Win blog, Ted Berg called Dombrowski "sneakily one of the game's best traders."
Now, Dombrowski will take those talents to Beantown, where the Red Sox are 53-66, last in the AL East and 13.5 games back from the first-place Yankees.
"I want to thank John and Tom for this opportunity," Dombrowski said in the Red Sox statement. "Although I did have other potential options within baseball, there was no option that stood out as clearly as the chance to come to Boston and win with the Red Sox. Boston is a baseball city like no other, and its history and traditions are unique in our game. I expressed to John and Tom that Boston would be my absolute top choice and am honored to have the chance to serve Red Sox Nation."
Dombrowski had been Detroit's GM since 2002, and had also spent time as GM of the Montreal Expos and the Florida Marlins. The Marlins' 1997 World Series came under his watch.
Meanwhile in Detroit, after Dombrowski's firing, Al Avila has taken over general manager duties. The Tigers hang in the middle of the pack in the AL East, at 57-61.