Chad Tracy is officially the Boston Red Sox’s 49th full-time manager, locking in a three-year deal that runs through the 2029 season. At the same time, Red Sox ownership doubled down on their baseball ops chief, exercising options on Craig Breslow’s contract that keep him in the big chair for at least four more years, stretching into 2030. If you’d asked anyone back in June, this kind of security for Breslow, or Tracy getting the full-time gig after his stint as interim manager, would have sounded wild. But given how the season has unfolded, this was apparently a “foregone conclusion,” and it signals a serious turnaround for the club.
Boston’s Bid For Stability
Red Sox President & CEO Sam Kennedy made it clear these moves are about locking in leadership, saying, “Craig and Chad are two exceptionally talented leaders who have earned these opportunities in very different ways.” Kennedy praised Breslow for bringing “clarity, discipline, and conviction” over the last three years and highlighted how Tracy, despite stepping into a “difficult situation with little notice,” immediately commanded trust. “What this team has accomplished over the past several months has been historic,” Kennedy stated, emphasizing that “results matter greatly in this business, but so do judgment, character, and the ability to bring out the best in others.” FSG, Boston’s ownership group, is clearly hoping this finally brings some much-needed continuity after years of churn. Since Francona and Epstein parted ways in 2011, Boston has seen eight different manager/baseball operations head combinations. The Bloom-Cora pairing, their longest, barely lasted three years.
The Batting Slump Threatening Everything
While the front office is looking long-term, Chad Tracy and Breslow have a major problem brewing right now. The Red Sox offense is absolutely scuffling. Over their last 11 games, the team is barely hitting above the Mendoza Line, and they’re averaging fewer than three runs scored. Ouch. Missing key guys like Willson Contreras and Ceddanne Rafaela doesn’t help, but even lineup mainstays like Wilyer Abreu and Adley Rutschman are stuck in brutal slumps. After Sunday’s loss, Tracy admitted, “Just got to stay with it. Obviously we’ve got to hit and score runs. But we’re getting our way back to health, and we’ll get there.” But for how long? If those bats don’t wake up, all these leadership extensions won’t stop them from getting bounced in the first round.
Our Mariners, meanwhile, just keep grinding it out! They took down the Colorado Rockies 2-1 in a tight game. Let’s go, M’s!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Over the Monster.
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