The Boston Red Sox are set to hire Craig Breslow as their Chief Baseball Officer after a few other candidates reportedly turned down the opportunity. One of those potential candidates was former Texas Rangers general manager and current Tampa Bay Rays senior advisor Jon Daniels.
Daniels told WEEI’s Rob Bradford why he decided to decline an interview with the Boston Red Sox during his appearance on the Audacy Original Podcast “Baseball Isn’t Boring” this week.
“Sam (Kennedy) had reached out to the Rays,” Daniels said (9:50 in player above). “He and I ended up having a couple of conversations.”
Daniels was hired by the Rangers to become the youngest GM in MLB history at 28 years old back in 2005. He was fired just last August before joining the Rays in his advisor role.
“I was burnt out last year. It’s easy to recognize and admit that, and I knew I needed to take a step back,” he said. “I really just enjoyed being at home. I work remote, probably travel a week a month or so, and just to boil it down I’m happy right now.
“I’m happy at home. I’ve got two teenagers and a daughter that’s 11 about to be 12 here. My wife’s been a single mom for the first 16 years of their lives, their whole lives basically,” he continued. “I enjoyed being around. I enjoyed being a part of it and taking some pressure off of Robyn and just being part of the family again, honestly.”
There might be a time when Daniels would dip his toe back in.
“I was really appreciative to even be considered,” he said. “It just wasn’t the right time for me.”
Daniels would’ve jumped at the opportunity when he was younger, but family comes first for the 46-year-old father of three.
“Robyn and I met in Boston, we were 22 years old. She said ‘Can you imagine 22-year-old you saying no to a chance to interview for the head of the Red Sox?’ I’m like ‘I’d probably have to kick my own a–. It’s a crazy thing to even think about,’” he said. “It’s just the right decision for me and for us right now.”