New candidates emerging for Red Sox front office position
PHILADELPHIA - According to multiple sources, the Red Sox are eyeing former Pirates general manager Neal Huntington as a candidate for their vacant head of baseball operations position.
The 54-year-old Huntington served as Pittsburgh's GM from 2007-2019 and most recently worked in the Guardians front office last season as a special assistant of baseball projects.
Huntington's best run in Pittsburgh came from 2013-15 when the Pirates made the playoffs for three straight seasons, winning 98 games in 2015. While his club did finish above .500 in 2018 (82-79), the Bucs plummeted to 69-93 the following season, leading to Huntington's dismissal.
The stint in Cleveland marked his second, having spent 10 seasons with the then-Indians. It was a run that included time as an assistant GM and special assistant to the GM under current Blue Jays President of Baseball Operations Mark Shapiro.
An Amherst, New Hampshire native, Huntington spent four years at Amherst College where he became a second-team All-American first baseman. He would go on to earn his Master Degree in sports management at the University of Massachusetts.
Huntington does have a link with current Red Sox manager Alex Cora, having hired Cora's brother, Joey, as the a minor-league manager in 2016 before becoming the big league club's third base coach the following season.
Other than internal candidates, the only known candidates in line to be interviewed are current Twins GM Thad Levine and Huntington. It is expected the Red Sox will show interest in former Marlins general manager Kim Ng, who declined her side of the mutual option to return with Miami.
Earlier in the week, WEEI.com reported that former Rangers President of Baseball Operations Jon Daniels had declined the opportunity to interview due to family reasons. The Athletic reported Monday night that Phillies GM Sam Fuld and Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes have also taken their names out of consideration.