Craig Breslow and Chad Tracy secured their futures with the Boston Red Sox after a dramatic turnaround in the 2026 season. The team went from 14 games under .500 in mid-June to clinching a postseason spot, prompting the club to remove Tracy’s interim tag and extend Breslow’s contract through 2030.
On June 18, the Red Sox were 26-40, a dismal stretch that had many expecting sweeping changes. Owner John Henry, who had not spoken publicly since the 2020 departure of Mookie Betts, expressed frustration with the team’s performance during informal media conversations before a series against the Yankees. Having already approved the firing of manager Alex Cora and most of his staff in April, Henry seemed to shift some responsibility to the front office and players for the poor record.
Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and interim manager Chad Tracy appeared vulnerable as the Red Sox’s slide continued. Yet, instead of making immediate changes, the organization opted for patience. That decision was sealed after Boston ripped off 27 wins in 30 games, including a 15-game winning streak matching a club record last set in 1946. The scorching hot summer stretch lifted the team into the postseason and saved Breslow’s job while earning Tracy the permanent managerial position.
The announcement came Tuesday, with Breslow and Tracy sitting alongside team president Sam Kennedy. Kennedy praised both men for stepping into difficult roles. “Breslow, you came in in 2023 to get the Red Sox baseball operation on a path to sustain success back into a position where we could be competing for World Series championships,” Kennedy said. “And, Chad, you came into what was an incredibly difficult situation in April and provided stability and leadership when this organization needed it most.”
Breslow’s path to this point was far from straightforward. He was not the first choice for the chief baseball officer role; top candidates like Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes and former Twins president Derek Falvey declined interviews. Following the dismissal of Chaim Bloom, the Red Sox seemed directionless to many outside observers, with Henry’s quick firings of executives—such as Dave Dombrowski less than a year after the 2018 World Series win—adding to the perception of instability.
Despite a rocky start to the 2026 season, Breslow convinced ownership that firing Cora was necessary to reset the team. His willingness to take that risk paid off. “The path that we have taken to get to this point makes it all the more rewarding,” Breslow said. “It’s been a very difficult season for a number of reasons, but I think the progress toward the execution of a vision to get the commitment to continue on this journey is incredibly gratifying.”
Tracy’s rise has been more unexpected. A minor-league lifer who never reached the majors as a player, Tracy got his first major-league managing opportunity after stepping in for Cora. “I was pretty committed to trying to achieve this as a player, and was committed to it from like high school,” Tracy said. “Different obstacles got in the way that didn’t allow it, and then I made the choice. I’m going to go start all over at the very lowest level and do it all as a coach because I love the game of baseball.”
Tracy’s journey from minor leagues to managing one of baseball’s most storied franchises adds a layer of narrative to the Red Sox’s recent resurgence. The team’s ability to rebound from a 14-game deficit under .500 to a postseason berth shows how quickly fortunes can shift in baseball.
As the Red Sox prepare to face the Yankees in a best-of-three Wild Card Series next week, the organization has committed to Breslow and Tracy as the architects of its future. The postseason rematch comes one year after the Yankees ended Boston’s campaign in the same round, setting the stage for a fresh chapter in the rivalry.
For now, the stability in Boston contrasts sharply with the turmoil of earlier in the season. Breslow and Tracy’s futures are secure, and the team has momentum headed into October.
According to CBS.