Reports have surfaced that Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow will this offseason begin a search for a general manager to serve under him in the front office. A top option was just poached by another team, however.
The Washington Nationals reportedly plan to hire Paul Toboni "to be their new head of baseball operations," according to MLB insider Jeff Passan. Toboni has worked in the Red Sox organization for 10 years, working his way up from a baseball operations intern to assistant GM in that time. Breslow promoted Toboni to the assistant GM position soon after he was hired before the 2024 season.
Toboni's job title in the Nationals' front office has not yet been confirmed. He's more than likely in line to be their new GM after they fired their longtime GM, Mike Rizzo, in July after a rough start to the 2025 campaign. Passan referred to Toboni as "one of the best young executives in MLB," and he could be an ideal fit for this up-and-coming Washington team, flush with young talent.
Chris Cotillo of MassLive reported shortly after Passan's announcement that Toboni was Breslow's top choice to serve under him as GM. Now, the CBO will have to look to the market while the Orioles also search for a new GM to replace Mike Elias, who was quietly promoted to president over the offseason.
Nationals to hire Red Sox assistant GM Paul Toboni as new head of baseball operations, poaching top GM choice from Craig Breslow
BREAKING: The Washington Nationals are finalizing a deal to name Paul Toboni their new head of baseball operations, sources tell ESPN. Toboni, 35, rose rapidly to become assistant GM for the Boston Red Sox and is widely regarded as one of the best young executives in MLB.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) September 24, 2025
Toboni spent three years as the Red Sox's amateur scouting director from 2019-22. During that time, Boston drafted Triston Casas, Marcelo Mayer, Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell, and more top talent in the Sox's farm system and on their major league squad.
According to The Athletic, the Red Sox could've lost another one of their many assistant GMs to the Nationals. Eddie Romero also interviewed for the position Toboni accepted.
With Toboni out of the picture, the Red Sox will need to look harder for their future GM this offseason, alongside their free agent and trade pursuits. Toboni will have a lot of work to do in Washington, which looks to revamp its team after posting six-straight losing seasons in the wake of winning the 2019 World Series.