Chaim Bloom, the Boston Red Sox’s chief baseball officer, was dismissed on Thursday after four up-and-down seasons that included two last-place finishes and a 2023 season that was nearly destined to conclude without a postseason appearance.
Bloom, 40, joined the Red Sox after general manager Dave Dombrowski was fired in September 2019, a year after the Red Sox won their fourth World Series in 15 years. As the contrast to the swashbuckling Dombrowski, he provided small-market success with Tampa Bay: methodical, patient, and willing to rebuild a farm system while still excelling in the big leagues.
Bloom was moved to the Los Angeles Dodgers only months after arrival, with ownership emphasising financial flexibility. The move loomed over his career as Boston sandwiched last-place campaigns around a 2021 ALCS victory against Houston. The Red Sox, who were on the verge of wild-card contention only a week ago, have lost six of their previous seven games heading into Thursday’s doubleheader against the New York Yankees.
Multiple individuals in the organisation were stunned by the termination, as they thought that despite the lack of major league success, the Red Sox’s future – with a much-improved farm system and ample capacity to spend – was bright. Bloom “set the stage for the future,” according to owner John Henry, but it wasn’t enough to keep his job.
“The decision was not made lightly or easily,” club president and CEO Sam Kennedy said before his press conference, reading from a prepared statement. “We’re all aware of where we are in the rankings. It’s a harsh truth that fans share with us. Our supporters want a successful, competitive squad that routinely competes in the playoffs.”
After spending 86 years without a World Series title, the Red Sox have won four in the last decade, the most for any team this century.
But they’ve done it with three different baseball executives — Theo Epstein (2004, ’07), Ben Cherington (’13), and Dombrowski (’18) — and five different managers during that period, since the club has also finished last in the AL East five times since 2012.
“I think we’ve always been consistent, trying to build, build that farm system, but winning at the major league level has always been a priority,” Kennedy said. “Obviously, we haven’t been there for the past two seasons, and the change was made.”
The Red Sox were 267-262 throughout Bloom’s tenure before Thursday’s doubleheader against the Yankees, including a trip to the AL Championship Series in 2021.
“It’s hard to say it’s not related to results because that’s what this is all about,” Kennedy said. “We want to win World Series championships.” That’s all. That is the objective, that is the goal. We’re here to win World Series titles. We’re not going to squander this chance while we’re here. That is the essence of the Boston Red Sox.”
Kennedy said that Henry, Chairman Tom Werner, and himself told Bloom of the decision on Thursday morning.
According to the organisation, general manager Brian O’Halloran “has been offered a new senior leadership position within the baseball operations department.”
In the meantime, O’Halloran will lead the department with assistant general managers Eddie Romero, Raquel Ferreira, and Michael Groopman.
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