It has been a magical season for the Boston Red Sox. They got off to a terrible start, being in last place in late June. That terrible start got long-time manager and fan favorite Alex Cora fired. This shakeup can make or break a team. It can inspire a team and propel them on a run, or it can destroy morale and cause them to fall even further. Fortunately for Red Sox fans, it was the former. The Red Sox caught fire and went on a 27-3 run that helped them climb to the second wild card spot in the American League.
Because of this turnaround, the guys in charge of steering the ship earned extensions. Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow had his club options exercised for the 2029 and 2030 seasons. Interim Manager Chad Tracy was promoted to full-time manager. He also received a three-year deal with a club option for 2030. The Red Sox now have their leadership group locked up for the foreseeable future. But are these the guys the Red Sox should roll with?
Was This the Right Decision for the Red Sox?
First, let’s take a look at Chad Tracy. As mentioned before, when he took over, it looked like the Red Sox were going nowhere. They were 10-17 when he took over, and they were two games under .500 at the All-Star break. But Tracy kept the players motivated. He didn’t let the struggles derail the season and turn it into a losing one. His leadership helped the Red Sox build that historic winning streak and is a major reason they are about to return to the postseason.
This isn’t easy to do. To come in mid-season and not just earn the locker room’s respect, but flip the season in the opposite direction. That kind of leadership is hard to come by. Had the Red Sox not extended him, he would have been one of the most sought-after managers this offseason. Teams would be lining up in hopes that Tracy could do to their franchise what he did for the Red Sox. Because he was so in demand, the Red Sox needed to lock him up now and make sure they didn’t lose him.
While locking up Tracy long-term was the right decision, the same can not be said for Breslow. His tenure running baseball operations for the Red Sox has been rocky. The Rafael Devers trade was extremely unpopular with the fanbase. He also allowed Alex Bregman to walk out the door, the guy who was supposed to replace Devers and who was a big voice in the Red Sox locker room. But he has redeemed himself, as his offseason moves have paid off well for Boston.
With Breslow already being under contract until the end of the 2028 season, the smarter move would have been to sit and wait on any decision involving Breslow. To see if the changes he made to his approach and how he interacts with players were not just a one-year thing. If he proved himself, you could have exercised these options over the next few seasons, and the result would have been the same. But if things fall apart and some of th drama returns, they could have easily moved on from him.
These moves are a mixed bag for the Red Sox. If they can repeat what they did this season, signing them both long-term would seem like a no-brainer. But if they struggle next year, it will be even harder to start over.
