Red Sox announce restructured FO; co-GMs

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By The Associated Press

BOSTON -- Instead of hiring a new general manager, the Boston Red Sox decided assistant general manager Jed Hoyer and director of player development Ben Cherington will share the job.

 

"Between them, Ben and Jed have intimate knowledge of every player in our organization, from top to bottom," team president Larry Lucchino said Monday. "They complement each other well with their varied experiences."

 

The GM job had been vacant since Theo Epstein's contract expired Oct. 31. There was no mention whether Epstein, who left after lengthy negotiations with Lucchino, would return as a team adviser. ESPN's Peter Gammons reported Epstein's possible role will be worked out in time.

 

The 31-year-old Cherington and 32-year-old Hoyer were part of a four-person crew the Red Sox sent to the winter meetings last week in Dallas.

 

Boston's lack of a GM hasn't stopped the team from making trades. Boston landed pitcher Josh Beckett, third baseman Mike Lowell and reliever Guillermo Mota from the Florida Marlins for prospects, and sent shortstop Edgar Renteria to Atlanta.

 

Boston is trying to re-sign center fielder Johnny Damon, who is a free agent. In addition, left fielder Manny Ramirez and left-hander David Wells have asked to be traded.

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Three years ago, Boston broke the baseball mold and signed the youngest GM ever - a move many teams are copying. Now, they again break the mold and go in a new direction. I'm sure this will, too, become a trend for MLB teams.