The Boston Red Sox for the second year in a row have had an Assistant General Manager hired by another organization. Taylor Smith has been hired as the Athletics' new President of Baseball Operations, according to Jessica Kleinshmidt.
The Athletics on August 7 fired their longtime GM David Forst. There had been reports that the A's were interested in poaching Smith and they pulled it off quickly. Last season, the Washington Nationals hired former Red Sox AGM Paul Toboni as their PBO, just before Craig Breslow could appoint him GM in Boston.
Losing Smith is a tough blow for Breslow, who hired him two years ago. Smith for seven years worked on the Tampa Bay Rays' research and development team before Breslow poached him to be one of many AGMs in Boston (subscription required).
After losing Toboni and Smith in back-to-back years, the Red Sox are down to three AGMs from five — the remaining three are Raquel Ferreira, Eddie Romero and Michael Groopman. The A's also targeted Groopman for their PBO vacancy but pursued a different Red Sox exec instead.
Red Sox lose AGM Taylor Smith to A's, former exec Jared Banner joins Orioles as GM
The exodus of top front office talent could point to internal trouble in Boston that makes it difficult to retain top officials. Breslow has become infamous for his robotic style of communication and his front office has been plagued by leakers spilling internal drama.
Despite the loss for the Red Sox, Smith is a great fit for the A's. The team formerly from Oakland may finally be ready to compete again after owner John Fisher got through tanking hard enough to disengage a once dedicated fanbase to secure a relocation to Las Vegas. The Athletics are expected to debut in their new home in 2028.
On a positive note, the Red Sox love to trade with their former execs scattered around the league and Smith gives them an option in Sacramento/Vegas. Craig Breslow has already made two trades with Tobini, a few with Ben Cherington of the Pittsburgh Pirates and many with Chaim Bloom of the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Baltimore Orioles on October 19 also welcomed a new GM to work under longtime PBO, Mike Elias. Jared Banner has worked in front offices around baseball for the last 18 years, most recently as AGM for the Chicago Cubs, but he also worked for the Red Sox.
Banner worked in Boston for 11 years, holding many different jobs including Vice President, Player Personnel, Assistant Director, Player Personnel, Assistant, Player Development, and more. He worked in the Red Sox organization during the 2007, 2013 and 2018 World Series
According to Andy Kostka and John Meoli of The Baltimore Banner, Banner is the most significant outside addition the O's organization has made since it hired Elias. Under new owner, billionaire and Baltimore native David Rubenstein, the Orioles were expected to be much more of a threat — in free agency and in the standings — in the American League East. That hasn't materialized yet, but the intriduction of more outside voices like Banner could be a sign that Baltimore is fully commited to change.
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