The Boston Red Sox fired Chaim Bloom on Thursday as their Chief Baseball Officer and say they will begin their search for a replacement right away. On Friday’s Felger and Mazz, Chris Gasper of The Boston Globe let the guys know who he wanted for a replacement for Bloom.
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Gasper wants Billy Beane in Boston….
Felger: Gasper, who’s your GM? Who’s your next Red Sox GM?
Chris Gasper: Billy Beane.
Jim Murray: Boooo!
Chris Gasper: Billy Beane is the guy.
Mazz: Booo!
Felger: Why? Why Boo?
Jim Murray: He’s the chief nerd of all. Eff him. He’s the one that started all this crap.
J-Stew: He’s ruining baseball. Billy Beane did.
Mazz: He ruined it. Past tense.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 15: Red Sox Owner John Henry looks on during a press conference addressing the departure of Alex Cora as manager of the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on January 15, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. A MLB investigation concluded that Cora was involved in the Houston Astros sign stealing operation in 2017 while he was the bench coach. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Felger: You’re not going to get a non nerd. It’s over. There are no not nerds left to hire. There’s only a degree of nerd. And it’s gotten so nerdy that I think he’s probably more of a throwback than most of the nerds now. But anyway. Where is Billy being right now, Chris? And why is he your guy?
Chris Gasper: First of all Felger, thank you. You’re right. He is more of a throwback at this point. He’s in his sixties. He’s in Oakland. They sort of put him out to pasture a little bit. They made him a senior advisor to the owner out there. It doesn’t seem like that’s exactly what he wants to do. And remember now, Mazz, I know you remember this well, John Henry pursued Billy Beane back in 2002 before they promoted Theo Epstein. He really wanted him. They offered him a then unprecedented deal. And I think that when rich people get turned down by someone that sticks with them and they want to turn around and see if they can eventually get that person to do what they wanted them to do. Billy Beane is somebody who can win in a cost effective manner in terms of making the playoffs. Between 2000 and 2020, when he was involved in baseball ops over there, they made the playoffs 11 times and Billy Beane is sort of a pop culture icon. He’s a name. He has the type of buzz that I think the Red Sox need right now. And also, what’s the one thing missing from Billy Beane’s resume?
Mazz: World Series.
Felger: Yeah, Championship.
Chris Gasper: World Series. You come to the Red Sox, if you build it and it’s good, you get to keep it. You don’t have to break it up after two years like he did in Oakland. And the first time he didn’t come here because he wanted to stay in proximity to his daughter who now is an adult. She works in Chicago. He has two children now. He has twins. They’re in their teens, but they could move out here. He has a relationship with Henry. Mazz, do you remember this a couple of years ago when Redbird Capital, which was co-founded by Beane, tried to buy a stake in FSG?
Mazz: Yes.
Chris Gasper: It fell through. They wanted to take FSG public. I think baseball had sort of an issue with being having the ownership stake in the A’s and also doing this thing, anyways, if John Henry put an ownership stake in the Red Sox on the table for Beane, do you think he says no to that? I would make a push for him. And as Felger pointed out, I know he’s the guy who started this all, but Billy Beane didn’t invent the opener. Billy Beane wasn’t doing crazy shifting. Billy Beane is a throwback at this point. He’s just efficient.
Listen to Felger and Mazz from 2-6 every Monday-Friday on 98.5 The Sports Hub, with hosts Mike Felger, Tony “Mazz” Massarotti, and Jim Murray “Big Jim”. You can listen live in the Sports Hub App and subscribe to their podcasts here. Follow @FelgerAndMazz on Twitter to keep up with the show!
Potential replacements for Chaim Bloom as Red Sox CBO
Alex Cora
Mar 25, 2022; North Port, Florida, USA; Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora (13) looks on against the Atlanta Braves during spring training at CoolToday Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Alex Cora for me is the favorite to move from the dugout to the front office as the Red Sox next General Manager or Chief Baseball Officer or whatever the title. Alex Cora is the best baseball talent evaluator the Red Sox have, he seems to have the ear of ownership and I want to see him given the keys to build a roster the way he wants to build it. I believe Cora wants the responsibility of being the final decision maker on the Red Sox roster. I hope Alex Cora gets the promotion to the Red Sox front office.
Sam Fuld – Phillies
Feb 19, 2019; Clearwater, FL, USA; Philadelphia Phillies coach Sam Fuld (87) poses for a photo on photo day at Spectrum Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Sam Fuld is the current general manager of the Philadelphia Phillies and reportedly was going to be the manager of the Boston Red Sox under Chaim Bloom. Fuld is known for his unique blend of playing experience, analytics expertise, and leadership skills. After his playing career, Fuld transitioned into a front-office role where he has continued to make significant contributions.
As a player, Fuld was known for his exceptional defensive skills and versatility. He played outfield for several teams in Major League Baseball, including the Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay Rays, Oakland Athletics, and Minnesota Twins.
Following his retirement as a player, Fuld joined the Philadelphia Phillies’ front office as the major league player information coordinator. In this role, he worked closely with players and coaching staff, providing valuable insights and analytical support. Fuld’s ability to bridge the gap between analytics and on-field performance made him a valuable asset to the organization.
Fuld’s work with the Phillies caught the attention of the Chicago Cubs, who hired him as their major league player information coordinator in 2018. In this role, he continued to make a significant impact, utilizing his analytical expertise to assist players and coaches in optimizing performance.
In 2020, Fuld joined the Philadelphia Phillies again, this time as the team’s general manager. His promotion to such a high-profile position speaks volumes about his reputation and abilities within the industry. As general manager, Fuld is responsible for overseeing the team’s roster construction, player development, and day-to-day operations.
