The Detroit Tigers released CEO and general manager Dave Dombrowski from his contract on Tuesday to "pursue other career opportunities" and the front office executive will be a hot commodity between now and the offseason. Are the Boston Red Sox a potential landing spot for Dombrowski?
Last week the Red Sox and team president/CEO Larry Lucchino will part ways after the 69-year-old said he would be stepping down at the end of the season. Rumors suggest Lucchino's protégé, Sam Kennedy, will assume the role of club president and report directly to principal owner John Henry and chairman Tom Werner, but now Dombrowski's availability may change all of that.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today posits Boston could be a great fit for Dombrowski.
"Certainly, the Boston Red Sox make the most sense for Dombrowski's next destination," he wrote. "The Red Sox are on their way to their third season of 90 or more losses in the last four years ...
"It leaves the door wide open for Dombrowski, who has been ingenious in reclamation projects with the Montreal Expos, Miami Marlins and Tigers."
And it appears the idea may have already been floated around in the organization.
"One scenario that could come into play, according to major league sources, is a restructuring of the Red Sox front office into a model used by many other clubs where a president, or director of baseball operations, would work closely with and oversee General Manager Ben Cherington," writes Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald.
Although there has been some talk/rumors about Cherington and manager John Farrell being on the hot seat at one point or another, it's unlikely either of them are gone after the season considering they won a World Series just two seasons ago (and they're both also viewed as a package). Cherington took over as GM before the 2012 season after succeeding Theo Epstein, and although his record is just 284-309, the team still remains a bit of a work in progress as veterans are phasing their way out and youngsters are moving their way up.
However, it's clear Cherington is tasked with a lot at the present moment and turning around the Red Sox may take more than one astute baseball mind.
"Red Sox Nation seems firmly behind bringing in a high-profile baseball person such as Dombrowski," writes Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. "Cherington's favorability ratings are at an all-time low with the fans, but maybe public sentiment isn't what drives this decision.
"Red Sox ownership's loyalty to Cherington is commendable. He won a championship just two years ago and for that, he deserves the benefit of the doubt and a chance to turn things around. Could he do that with Dombrowski?"
We'll just have to wait and see. The Los Angeles Angels, Philadelphia Phillies, Seattle Mariners, Baltimore Orioles, Toronto Blue Jays and Milwaukee Brewers could all be in need of a general manager or team president after this season.
There will be much demand for Dombrowski over the next few months.
