Is this the dreaded kiss of death disguised as a vote of confidence? That’s how many people classify it whenever an ownership group publicly states that they’re not going to fire a GM/CBO/PBO/manager/whatever. But that hasn’t always been true in the case of the Red Sox, as the firings of both Alex Cora and Dave Dombrowski came out of nowhere (Chaim Bloom, like Craig Breslow, was in a more publicly precarious position when he got the axe.) So interpret this however you want: “The Red Sox are not considering
firing chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, a team source said Monday night.” (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)
Whether or not Fenway Sports Group is considering firing Breslow, they are apparently trying to do his job for him, per ESPN’s Buster Olney: ”Today I talked to someone, with another team, that told me that it’s to the degree that the Red Sox ownership has gotten involved. I have not confirmed the name of the owner… but an owner, one of the Red Sox ownership group, is actually calling around and trying to grease the skids to something to add a right-handed bat.”
“One of the Red Sox ownership group” could mean a lot of people, including John Henry, Sam Kennedy, or Theo Epstein. I know which of those three I’d like to see working on the roster…
But even if the Sox may not be considering firing Breslow, it may behoove them to add another voice to his inner circle, “someone with a different background who’s not always going to be a yes-man.” (Peter Abraham, Boston Globe)
Speaking of trades, there was a brief rumor circulating yesterday that the Red Sox were working on trading (or already had traded) Marcelo Mayer. It was not true. “There’s some things that you see, and you’re like, ‘OK, that is not accurate, but I at least understand where it came from,” said Breslow. “And then there are things that are just blatantly false and don’t deserve a ton of attention, and this falls into that category.” Mayer himself seems nonplussed: “I’m here to play baseball, not to read Twitter.” (Alex Speier, Boston Globe)
And Mayer came through with a rare show of power last night in Tampa, thanks in part, perhaps, to some work he did at Yankee Stadium during Saturday’s rain delay. (Christopher Smithh, MassLive)
As an elite closer on a last place team, it’s no surprise that there are plenty of trade rumors swirling around Aroldis Chapman, too, but he doesn’t seem eager to pack his bags. “My mentality is to stay here and win here,” Chapman said through translator Carlos Villoria Benítez on Monday. “Try to turn things around.” (Christopher Smith, MassLive)
Chapman will soon get some help in the bullpen to try to turn things around with him, as Garrett Whitlock is expected to be activated from the IL today. (Evan Cormier, NESN)
