Once upon a time, almost three months ago, the Boston Red Sox were at a 33-46 record, sitting in last place in their division. Now, they're at 84 wins with two series left and could have 90 wins by season's end for the first time since 2021 (92). Due to this, Red Sox ownership gave out some well-deserved rewards.
The Red Sox rightfully extended manager Chad Tracy
First and foremost, interim manager Chad Tracy is no longer interim, as the team officially removed the tag on Tuesday, September 22.
He has agreed to a three-year contract with a club option for 2030. Tracy took over on April 26 after the Red Sox fired longtime manager Alex Cora, who had been with the team since the year they won the World Series in 2018. Since his promotion from Worcester Red Sox manager to Red Sox manager, the club has gone 74-55 with a week left in the season.
Tracy was deemed an excellent manager in Worcester, but never in our wildest dreams did anyone envision this team playing the way they are right now after such a sluggish start. Right now, Tracy is the front-runner for the AL Manager of the Year, and it's not even close.
Also, Red Sox managers in their first year since 2004 have gone on record to win the World Series every time. Cora did in 2018, John Farrell in 2013, and Terry Francona in 2004. Just keep that in mind...
Craig Breslow has proven his doubters wrong, made Boston a contender
Secondly, CBO Craig Breslow has been extended, exercising both club options from 2029 to 2030. Breslow has had a story of his own. He's been silencing his doubters a lot since his takeover of the club on October 25, 2023.
He was originally scolded for standing pat in his first offseason, and the results showed another mediocre season similar to 2022 and 2023. But then came the 2024-2025 offseason, when he pounced on the opportunity. He acquired Cy Young-contending left-hander Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox, signed All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman, and acquired left-handed reliever Jovaní Morán from the Minnesota Twins.
But due to multiple factors creating a disgruntled player in Rafael Devers, who let his behavior get the better of him, the two parties decided to part, and he was traded to the San Francisco Giants. Later on, Breslow ended up trading three of those players (Kyle Harrison, Jordan Hicks, and James Tibbs III) to different teams by the time the 2026 season started.
He did bolster the roster in the 2025 offseason, acquiring two All-Stars from the St. Louis Cardinals: right-hander Sonny Gray and first baseman Willson Contreras. He also acquired a few key depth players like right-hander Johan Oviedo, left-hander Tyler Samaniego, and left-handed starter Jake Bennett, who has performed very well this season. However, those were overshadowed by his past decisions; the fans wouldn't let it go, and it got even worse when the Red Sox became a last-place team.
Ownership wasn't confident in his abilities at the helm anymore, with John Henry getting "worried" about how bad the Red Sox were. According to some sources, they believed Breslow fired Cora as a move to get the heat off him from ownership. Yes, Cora had his faults, especially with his lack of bullpen management, but the popular belief was that Breslow was becoming more and more of a liability than an asset.
But once the Red Sox got into form, turning their season around completely, those loud noises about him possibly getting fired at the end of the season started to fade. He got into the trade deadline with full incentive to buy, and he held out as long as possible to see the team turn itself around. He acquired All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman, infielder Curtis Mead, and left-hander Erik Miller, and solidified the roster as much as he could.
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