Red Sox fire Chaim Bloom after nearly 4 seasons
The Boston Red Sox fired chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom on Thursday.
"While parting ways is not taken lightly, today signals a new direction for our club," Red Sox owner John Henry said in a statement.
The Red Sox hired Bloom in October 2019. Boston made the postseason once during Bloom's tenure, reaching the ALCS before falling to the Houston Astros in 2021.
"Our organization has significant expectations on the field and while Chaim’s efforts in revitalizing our baseball infrastructure have helped set the stage for the future, we will today begin a search for new leadership," Henry added. "Everyone who knows Chaim has a deep appreciation and respect for the kind of person he is. His time with us will always be marked by his professionalism, integrity, and an unwavering respect for our club and its legacy."
Bloom addressed his dismissal Friday and believes the Red Sox are positioned to contend for years to come.
"Great things are now in store for the Red Sox," Bloom said in a statement to The Athletic's Jen McCaffrey. "And while I'm sad that I won't be watching them from the same chair, I will still be very proud.
"Red Sox fans, you are the best. Your passion fueled me daily and added meaning to everything I've done here. You very much deserve more championships. And you will get them."
Red Sox general manager Brian O'Halloran was also offered a new senior leadership position within the baseball operations department.
O'Halloran and assistant general managers Eddie Romero, Raquel Ferreira, and Michael Groopman will continue to run the day-to-day operations while the Red Sox search for Bloom's replacement.
Red Sox president Sam Kennedy offered insight into what the club will prioritize in candidates to replace Bloom.
"We need leadership that can help continue to build the organization from the bottom up," Kennedy said, according to Alex Speier of the Boston Globe. "And that is focused on winning at the big-league level."
Kennedy already ruled one executive out of contention.
Theo Epstein is not a candidate to lead the Red Sox, says Sam Kennedy.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) September 14, 2023
Cleveland Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti and Oakland Athletics general manager David Forst are potential candidates to become the next president of baseball operations for the Red Sox, reports MLB Network's Jon Morosi.
Bloom's most notable move was trading former MVP outfielder Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers for a package headlined by outfielder Alex Verdugo in 2020. Betts went on to win the World Series in his first season with the Dodgers and is in contention for NL MVP this year.
The Red Sox finished Bloom's tenure with a 267-262 record.