SEATTLE — Upon completing the most significant transaction of his executive career, boarding an impromptu flight across the country, and joining the Red Sox for the start for their three-city road trip, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow did not call a team meeting.
Instead, he said, he took the approach of being physically present and available, ready and willing to chat with whoever wanted to hear from him — or be heard by him.
Rafael Devers, a homegrown fan favorite and the recipient of the largest contract in franchise history, was traded to the Giants, ending a monthslong drama about his playing defense and feud with the front office. Breslow was there to talk it out in more private settings.
“When you bring a team together, it becomes very one-sided,” Breslow said. “I would be talking to them. I felt like it was unlikely other guys would ask questions, especially in front of the group. It doesn’t really invite a conversation the way that having more one-on-one conversations can.
“I just tried to grab guys one at a time and check in, see if they have any questions, make sure I’m reinforcing our belief in this group and if they have anything that they want to raise with me. From asking a question to venting, I’m here for it. I just feel like people tend to be a little more comfortable in a one-on-one type environment.”
A common sentiment from players, per Breslow: surprise, particularly at the timing of the deal, with the Red Sox amid their best stretch of the season.
Did players seem to understand why Breslow and the front office made the move?
“I think so, but I don’t want to speak for the players,” he said. “It was important to be here in person to give them the opportunity to ask questions that they have.”
In his second year running the Red Sox’ baseball operations department, Breslow is trying to find the right balance of how much to be around and on the ground. He admits it is tricky. The clubhouse and field-level areas mostly are for the players and coaching staff. Some execs prefer to stay away, or at least not hang around too much. Breslow is the same.
“It’s really hard to know how much is the right amount to be available and present,” Breslow said. “I don’t want to appear as if I’m looking over people’s shoulders and I’m micro-managing the situation. But I do think there are certain moments in time when it’s really important for me to be here.”
This was one of those moments. Breslow did not plan to be with the team this week — he tries to do one road series a month, he said — but upon dealing Devers knew he would have to change his itinerary. Before heading back to Boston on Wednesday, Breslow was a consistent presence in the Sox’ clubhouse before and after games, strolling through, pulling players aside, even spending time at individual lockers.
“Given the magnitude of this trade,” he said, “I wanted to make sure that I’m here and guys know where to find me and they can absolutely approach me any time.”
Tim Healey can be reached at timothy.healey@globe.com. Follow him @timbhealey.
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
