The Only Way Forward

It goes without saying that this season has been an abject disaster. I don't think there are many fans left defending Breslow's horrendous roster construction. Most of us want him fired yesterday. But I ask genuinely: who wants this job?

This organization has become a laughingstock around the league. Nobody wanted the job in 2023, and it's only gotten worse since then. Dombrowski got fired because he refused to tear down an expensive 108-win team, wouldn't trade Mookie Betts, and "only" won 84 games a year removed from the most dominant Red Sox team of all-time. Chaim was brought in to trade Mookie, and then was repeatedly kneecapped by ownership at every turn. He had his issues (shoutout to the abysmal Story and Yoshida contracts), but he rebuilt the farm system and presided over an ALCS run. The only team he ever put on the field that was anywhere near this bad was the ownership-mandated 2020 teardown squad.

Breslow was brought in to usher the Red Sox out of the rebuild and into World Series contention. It is now year 3 of his tenure, and he has a single wildcard appearance to show for it. This team came into the year with a $270 million payroll and 90-win aspirations, and it's somehow significantly worse than the mediocre rosters Breslow inherited. There's no way around it, these results are completely inexcusable. The weak AL gave us hope for a bit, but this team is not one bat away. They're now 12 games below .500, and their two best players have been on the IL for over a month with no sign of returning anytime soon. Now is the time to sell; that much is clear. But how can anyone trust Breslow to maximize the return after he's failed to do so time and time again? And how do we know an interim POBO would do any better?

There's only one real solution here. John Henry needs to get on his knees and beg Theo Epstein to come right the ship. I know, it's unrealistic; some of you will say I sound like some idiot calling in to 98.5 with another hare-brained scheme to fix the Sox. But money talks, and Henry has a lot of it. More than enough to make an offer Theo can't refuse.

Ask Theo to come serve as team president and CEO for the next four years. Offer him a greater ownership stake in FSG, whatever he wants. Theo presides over the in-season fire sale. Then, in the offseason, he gets to handpick his CBO, GM, manager, scouts, everything. Most importantly: Henry and Kennedy agree to stay the hell out of his way. Theo doesn't have to perform the day-to-day tasks needed to run the team; he just needs to be a credible face at the top. Someone we can bring to the table for a big trade negotiation or free agent signing to push the deal over the finish line. Theo points the way, and his hires carry out his vision.

FSG has been dangling Theo's presence to the fans for too long. They invoke his name when it's convenient (see: the Bregman signing, Breslow hire), but it's obvious he's not all that involved. I'm sure he has much higher aspirations than fixing this shitshow, but everyone has a number. This isn't just nostalgia talking, it's now a matter of necessity. If Henry can't convince him, he might as well sell the team. FSG has devolved into a complete joke without Epstein or Lucchino at the top, and everyone knows it.