Everything you need to know about Craig Breslow
Craig Breslow is running the Red Sox.
Tuesday night, the former relief pitcher agreed to take over the team's baseball operations department with the understanding that he had full authority over all decision-making in that corner of the world. It's the power they first gave to Dave Dombrowski and then to Chaim Bloom.
They are going to let him mold things his way, with the spending power of an antsy ownership at the ready. That's how it had to be. Breslow knew that, which was why it had to be set in stone before the 43-year-old was going to jump off a pretty promising career path with the Cubs.
Breslow has always been one of the smartest people in baseball, but doesn't come off as someone who is intent on willing his intelligence on anybody in conversations. He has a dry sense of humor. He listens when the other person speaks. And he values information and insight, no matter what level of education or experience the party he is engaging with possesses.
Theo Epstein, for one, understood the potential of Breslow maybe more than most.
After finishing his playing career in 2018, Breslow interviewed with a variety of teams, including the Yankees and Brewers. But he wanted to make sure that whatever role that was going to be put in place didn't fall under some generic title. The lefty was intent on making sure that his work was going to yield very specific results under very specific circumstances. It was Epstein who was open more than anyone to letting Breslow craft his new existence.
The result? He was named Director of Strategic Initiatives for Baseball Operations, a position that was described at one which would "help to evaluate and implement data-based processes throughout all facets of Baseball Operations" and "support the organization's pitching infrastructure in Player Development and the major leagues."
Sure enough, it worked. Just more than a year later, he was promoted to assistant general manager while continuing to build out the Cubs' barren pool of pitching.
Four years and one week after his introduction into the world of front offices, Breslow is at it again, albeit with bigger stakes and a significantly bigger title.
And just as was the case on Oct. 18, 2019 - the day after he started his first off-the-field pro baseball job - Breslow will have to start implementing his vision. There's a lot to do and not a lot of time to do it. Here is what he is looking at:
CHANGING PERCEPTION
Through all the good that Bloom did during his tenure, the promise of the future was ultimately overcome by the discomfort of present. Too much apathy had started to creep in for the ownership group's liking. Landsdowne St. parades from Dodgers fans. Dollar tickets for Yankees series. Everything in and around needed to be re-energized. The Breslow hire was a step in the right direction in this regard.
While many of the other candidates for the job might very well have functioned just fine, the acceptance of Breslow by both the fan base and the Red Sox alumni (which means something) was far and away a step up from everyone else. People knew him. People liked him. People respected him. And people liked the idea of him.
It's a step in the right direction, but more steps need to be taken. Unless some bold offseason maneuvering follows, those steps will be forgotten fairly quickly.
ABOUT THAT OFFSEASON MANUEVERING
The old axiom that it often doesn't matter who wins the offseason is largely true. Unless you are in the current state of the Red Sox.
This doesn't necessarily have to be the extreme of Dave Dombrowski proclaiming at the 2015 GM Meetings that he was going to trade for a closer and sign an ace pitcher, almost immediately swinging a big deal for Craig Kimbrel while blowing away all competitors for free agent starter David Price.
But - because of the aforementioned apathy issue - it would seem that the Red Sox need to go back to start planting some stakes in the ground this offseason. Simply put, they need players people want to invest in and their roster can be built around. And it sure wouldn't hurt if at least a couple of those players pitched for a living.
We don't know how Breslow will proceed in this regard. Will he be willing to get uncomfortable when chasing free agents such as Yoshinobu Yamamoto instead of sticking to a price point? Is he going to be willing to win a trade by 51 percent instead of needing an 70-80 percent return on investment? These are important questions that will be quickly answered in the next three months.
THE SUPPORT SYSTEM
It certainly doesn't hurt that Breslow and Alex Cora know each other, having played together with the Red Sox for a couple of seasons. And the element of the new chief decision-maker understanding the rhythms of a clubhouse and a season is a definite plus.
But it is impossible to predict exactly how the dynamic is going to land.
This we do know: 1. Both are baseball guys who like information and looking at the game in an open-minded manner; 2. As previously mentioned, Breslow likes to get perspective from a variety of voices while not being beholden to any big ego; 3. While sustainability is still an organizational buzzword, both are seemingly on the same page in terms of prioritizing figuring this thing out for 2024 over any 2026 optimism.
Will Breslow's good friend - and partner in the 'Strike 3 Foundation' - Andrew Bailey become Cora's pitching coach? The guess is only if the manager is OK with such a move. If not, there could still be a strong likelihood that Bailey helps the organization in some other capacity.
As for Breslow's other front office lieutenants, that is another unknown. The current collection of talent still in-house - Eddie Romero, Brian O'Halloran, Raquel Ferreira and others - all date back to when Breslow was playing for the Red Sox, while continuing to carry a solid reputation throughout the game. But Breslow most likely understands an outside veteran voice with experiences he doesn't yet have might be a necessity.
It was Breslow who encouraged the Cubs to hire current general manager Carter Hawkins to complement Jed Hoyer, whose front office was heavy with Epstein-holdovers. While only in his 30's, Hawkins represented the kind of fresh set of eyes and viewpoints - born from his ascension through the Cleveland ranks - Chicago could use.
There is more. Five days after the World Series ends free agency begins, at which time the GM Meetings will be taking place in Arizona. Nov. 15 marks the roster protection deadline, with the non-tender jumping off point coming two days later. Players such as Shane Drohan, Wikelman Gonzalez, Luis Perales and Noah Song have to be put on the 40-man roster or get exposed to the Rule 5 Draft.
What to do with Alex Verdugo? Who should play second base? What about the designated hitter position?
Let the Craig Breslow Era begin.