Double-Header: Red Sox Announce New GM Structure

Red Sox Name Cherington (l) And Hoyer As Co-GMs

The Red Sox have named Assistant to the GM Jed Hoyer and Dir of Player Development Ben Cherington co-GMs. Each will have responsibility for a specific area of baseball operations and will work in unison on some issues. Cherington will focus on minor league matters including player development and scouting, while Hoyer will concentrate on major league business including transactions and contracts. While Red Sox President & CEO Larry Lucchino was present for the press conference, Red Sox Owner John Henry and Chair Tom Werner were not. Henry and Warner were in attendance for the press conference to announce GM Theo Epstein was not returning, while Lucchino was not (THE DAILY).

SPLIT DECISION: Cherington said of the restructuring of the Red Sox’ baseball operations, “In a traditional setup with one GM, it’s always a little overplayed that that person makes all the decisions in a vacuum. There’s always more than one person involved in a decision” (MLB.com, 12/12). Lucchino, on the reasoning for splitting the GM position: “There were people in-house the last four years who knew how we wanted to do it, what the philosophy was.” In Boston, Chris Snow notes Hoyer was Epstein’s “closest confidant in his former role.” Lucchino “refused to address the duration of their contracts and left open the possibility that Epstein would return to the club, in a capacity to be determined.” Lucchino: “We’ll keep the light on in the window, the door ajar, and if there’s a fit, we’d like to see it happen” (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/13).

Epstein Addition Next Red Sox Announcement?

PRODIGAL SON RETURNS? In Boston, Jeff Horrigan writes if Epstein “is convinced that the upper-management roots from above have been disentangled enough to allow for free reign within the baseball operations department, [he] is expected to assume a position comparable to divisional president. If not, he is likely to become a consultant to Cherington and Hoyer, with the opportunity to flee for a GM or executive position when/if offered” (BOSTON HERALD, 12/13). Henry said that if Epstein rejoins the team, “he will not be assuming any of [Lucchino’s] powers.” Henry: “People currently speculating about a reduced role for Larry Lucchino don’t know what they are talking about” (BOSTON HERALD, 12/13). Lucchino: “My role is going to stay the same.” In N.Y., Jack Curry writes Henry “has been trying to coax Epstein to return.” The team “may be addressing whatever bothered Epstein in his apparent split with Lucchino” (N.Y. TIMES, 12/13).

POWER RANGERS: In Boston, Gordon Edes writes “it defies credulity to believe [Epstein] will come back with any less authority than he had when he left.” Lucchino’s comments about Epstein’s potential return mark “a compete reversal of field since last month” when Lucchino and Werner began looking for a new GM “with assertions that they had turned the page on Epstein. But it’s just as apparent that Henry never turned the page.” Also, Lucchino “appears to be willing to turn the other cheek.” MLB Commissioner Bud Selig “has told people Lucchino would be a nice fit in DC, but this time Lucchino appears to be ignoring the siren call” (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/13). But also in Boston, Gerry Callahan writes under the header, “Lucchino’s Power Is Quickly Fading.” Lucchino would “never put his stamp of approval on such a touchy-feely plan [to have co-GMs]. It has to be John Henry, ... who obviously doesn’t want anyone to feel left out” (BOSTON HERALD, 12/13).

ANCHORMAN: Cherington was recently married to WHDH-NBC weekend sports anchor Wendi Nix (BOSTON HERALD, 12/13).