Red Sox can't afford to make this Craig Breslow trade deadline mistake

A new era has started in Boston. Alex Cora had been the manager of the Boston Red Sox since 2018 (except 2020, when he was suspended). He had outlasted two heads of baseball operations, and Craig Breslow was finally given the green light to remove him from the helm.

The team's rough start to the season likely played a part in the firing, but the rift between the coaching staff and the front office seems to have been a major factor. The move has allowed Breslow to put in place people who will follow his philosophies, and he believes this team can turn things around and make the playoffs.

It's a tall task for interim manager Chad Tracy, who inherited a team that was seven games under .500. The only saving grace for Breslow and his hunt for the playoffs is a weak American League. Despite a 12-19 March and April, Boston only finds itself three games out of a Wild Card spot at the end of April.

Breslow's optimism is likely tied to his job security. After making the playoffs in 2025, the team regressed significantly. Breslow made a lot of moves over the offseason, but they haven't panned out into the success he had hoped. An unsuccessful season likely costs him his job. This is year three for Breslow — his two predecessors, Dave Dombrowski and Chaim Bloom, each only lasted three seasons before they were fired.

The Red Sox's future shouldn’t be built by a lame duck

If the ownership group is considering removing Breslow, they can't make the mistake of letting him last long into this season. There is no reason Breslow should be in control by the trade deadline if he won't be in control this offseason.

Breslow's struggles making deals have been heavily chronicled. Whether it's only being able to make deals with certain teams or needing other members of the front office to step in and work on relationships, it has never been an easy process. He has also made a mess of multiple trades, with time showing he has been on the losing end of multiple big-ticket trades.

The Sox have a handful of veterans who could bring back solid hauls of prospects. Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras, Aroldis Chapman, Jarren Duran, and Garrett Whitlock are all veterans who could be highly coveted if the Red Sox find themselves selling in July. Breslow royally screwed the Rafael Devers trade, and the return he got for Chris Sale was extremely underwhelming.

Allowing him to sell off veterans for prospects he won't be around to develop makes no sense. Giving him the power to try and build a future he won't be around to see is a major mistake. Ownership should give Breslow until the end of June to be in a playoff position, and if they aren't, he should be on the unemployment line.

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