BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox named Chad Tracy the team's 49th manager and exercised contract options on Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow for the 2029 and 2030 seasons. Tracy signed a three-year contract that runs through the 2029 MLB season, while the organization holds a club option on him for the 2030 season.

These moves formalize the leadership structure after the team clinched a postseason berth on September 21, 2026. The Red Sox secured their playoff spot after losing 5-1 to the Tampa Bay Rays, finishing with an 84-72 overall record in the 2026 season.

Under Tracy’s leadership, the Red Sox posted a 74-55 record. The turnaround included sweeping a four-game series against the New York Yankees in late June 2026 and winning 15 consecutive games from July 3 to July 22, 2026. That 15-game winning streak tied for the longest in Red Sox club history.

"When you work as hard as we have worked, I don't think you care much how it gets done," Tracy said. "You just want to see your ticket get punched." He added, "They didn't take no for an answer."

Red Sox President & CEO Sam Kennedy addressed the organizational changes in an official statement. "Craig and Chad are two exceptionally talented leaders who have earned these opportunities in very different ways," Kennedy said. "What this team has accomplished over the past several months has been historic," Sam Kennedy said.

"Results matter greatly in this business, but so do judgment, character, and the ability to bring out the best in others," he said. "Craig and Chad have demonstrated all of those qualities, and they have earned our confidence in leading us forward," he said.

Kennedy noted Breslow’s impact since joining the front office. "Over the last three years, we have watched Craig bring clarity, discipline, and conviction to the work of building our baseball operation," he said. Breslow was hired as Chief Baseball Officer on October 25, 2023, after working in the Chicago Cubs' front office from 2019 to 2023.

Kennedy also detailed Tracy’s path to the major league dugout. "Chad was asked to step into a difficult situation with little notice, but the trust he immediately commanded at the major league level was earned through years of work across our organization," he said. Tracy, 41, managed the Worcester Red Sox from 2022 to 2025, compiling a 324-296 record over five seasons and establishing a track record of developing minor league talent before his promotion to the majors.

Tracy’s background in professional baseball extends to his playing days and family history. He was selected by the Texas Rangers in the third round of the 2006 MLB Draft and played eight professional seasons from 2006 to 2013. He later coached in the Los Angeles Angels organization from 2015 to 2021. Chad Tracy’s father, Jim Tracy, managed 11 seasons in Major League Baseball, including stints with the San Diego Padres and Texas Rangers, providing Chad with early exposure to professional baseball operations.

Timeline

Chad Tracy was selected by the Texas Rangers in the third round of the 2006 MLB Draft on June 6, 2006. Craig Breslow won a World Series with the Boston Red Sox in 2013 on October 30, 2013. Breslow was hired as Chief Baseball Officer on October 25, 2023. The Red Sox finished the 2024 season with an 81-81 record on September 29, 2024.

The Red Sox finished the 2025 season with an 89-73 record on September 28, 2025. The New York Yankees defeated the Boston Red Sox in three games in the 2025 Wild Card Series on October 1, 2025. Chad Tracy was named interim manager on April 26, 2026. Alex Cora was dismissed as manager after the Red Sox started the season 10-17 on April 26, 2026.

What's New

Later reporting established that the 2026 Boston Red Sox became the first team in franchise history to overcome a 32-46 record through June 25 to clinch a playoff berth, marking the largest single-season turnaround in team history. Additional context revealed that Craig Breslow was part of the Boston Red Sox team that won the 2013 World Series, a pivotal moment in his career that shaped his approach to in-season decision-making.

Tracy stated, "When you work as hard as we have worked, I don't think you care much how it gets done." He also said, "You just want to see your ticket get punched," and noted, "They didn't take no for an answer." Records show Chad Tracy compiled a 324-296 record over five seasons managing the Worcester Red Sox (2022-2025), establishing a track record of developing minor league talent before his promotion to the majors.

Why It Matters

The contract extensions cement the leadership core responsible for the largest single-season turnaround in franchise history. By securing Breslow through 2030 and Tracy through at least 2029, the organization signaled confidence in the operational changes implemented during the 2026 season, including the unprecedented mid-season overhaul of the managerial and coaching staff.

The Red Sox enter the postseason with momentum after overcoming a historic deficit, moving from a 31-44 start to a playoff berth. The upcoming Wild Card Series against the New York Yankees presents an immediate test for this new leadership structure, particularly given the Yankees' victory over Boston in the 2025 Wild Card Series.