In the latest move involving the Red Sox baseball operations department — which currently lacks a single top leader — the organization announced several promotions involving key scouting personnel. In particular, Mike Rikard was promoted to VP of scouting while Paul Toboni was named his successor.
Rikard has been running the Boston draft for the past five seasons. He’ll expand his scouting duties while helping pass the baton to Toboni, who is just 28 years of age but has already spent three years in the assistant’s role. Also receiving bumps up the food chain were Devin Pearson (assistant director of amateur scouting) and Stephen Hargett (amateur crosschecker).
It’s a notable decision involving a major area of baseball ops. This is the second committing move the organization has made since dropping Dave Dombrowski in surprising fashion. Previously, the team made clear that it will retain manager Alex Cora. It also has been working with Tony La Russa on a continued role.
As Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe explores in a Twitter thread, this run of activity could hint that the team has its eyes on an internal executive to take over the helm of the baseball operations department. Assistant GM Eddie Romero is perhaps the top candidate; he has been running things along with fellow AGMs Zack Scott and Brian O’Halloran as well as senior VP of Major League and minor league operations Raquel Ferreira.
That’s not to say it’s a sure thing the Boston organization will stay internal. Perhaps the club feels certain that any worthwhile outside hire would be comfortable with its decisions in the wake of the Dombrowski firing. And there’s still chatter surrounding the possibilities. Jon Heyman of MLB Network recently tabbed Jed Hoyer of the Cubs and Amiel Sawdaye of the Diamondbacks as top potential targets (via 670 The Score).
It seems more and more likely that Romero is the top internal candidate
Still think it will be Racquel. Henry/Warner love being trendsetters, by all accounts she knows her stuff, and the Sox have more advisors and consultants than Amazon, to help her if needed.
They actively pursued Kim Ng last time; and it would get Brady & co. off the back pages for a couple of days. It’s a lot about the sizzle in Boston; sometimes (2018) the steak actually shows up.
Agree with Racquel. my vote of confidence in her was shot down at another site supposedly over her lack of credentials. i see no reason for her to have some flimsy ivy league, or other over rated supposed upper class school degree. Those IMO are of less use in real world use than most others and her long term employ with the team, experience with all aspects of jobs within the organization from MiLB to assistant GM makes her more than amply qualified in my book.
Bob, what the team needs is Amazon’s return policy and jettison some contracts to be able to start over. Where are the Dodgers this time around?
I almost hate to say it but in the wake of paying FAs the Redsox ownership tries to find the cheaper hire for GM n Manager. Let’s see what happens if Alex has a great next yr n they hafta pay him. Remember Tito, Theo, Farrell.
I don’t know why Farrell is listed. He seemed to have as many lives as a cat. For a pitching coach, he abused his relievers where several simply burned out. Remember two last place finishes after winning and then two quick playoff exits. As for Tito, the team has admitted they made mistakes but also remember Tito had pain issues in 2011 and did not manage the team well at the end of 2011.
The Red Sox should quit firing everybody all the time. You don’t throw away your underwear every day because it smells like butt, you put it in the laundry, wash it, and it’s good to go again. Same principle. I guess.