Chaim Bloom, president of baseball operations of the Boston Red Sox, looks on ahead of the game against the Texas Rangers at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts, July 4, 2023. /CFP
The Boston Red Sox have fired Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom, who had been working in the position for nearly four seasons, the team announced on Thursday.
"While parting ways is not taken lightly, today signals a new direction for our club," Red Sox principle owner John Henry said in a statement. "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."
Bloom was hired before the 2020 campaign, and the team has not been performing well in the four seasons since then. They only made the playoffs once in 2021 and lost 4-2 to the Houston Astros in the American League (AL) Championship Series.
Currently, the Red Sox are 74-74 and at the bottom of the AL East, 17.5 games behind division leader Baltimore Orioles and already out of the AL Wild Card race with 14 games to go.
Brayan Bello (L) of the Boston Red Sox pitches in the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada, September 15, 2023. /CFP
"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," Henry added in the statement.
Bloom's contribution to the Red Sox, especially in improving the team's farm system, is undeniable. However, his decision to trade Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers in February 2020 still seems unforgiving to a lot of fans.
General manager Brian O'Halloran, who has been working for the Red Sox since 2002, was offered a new senior leadership position within the baseball operations department when Bloom was fired, according to The Athletic, but he has not accepted the offer yet.
"There's a lot that has to improve and that includes our on-field staff," Red Sox CEO Sam Kennedy said. "So the baseball operations leadership will come in with a mandate to run the department – all aspects of the department."