Red Sox Rumors: GM Candidates With Nationals Hiring Paul Toboni

The Boston Red Sox lost a general manager candidate this week when multiple sources reported the Washington Nationals are hiring Paul Toboni as their new head of baseball operations.

The 35-year-old Toboni has been an assistant general manager for the Red Sox and one of the candidates to be the new GM in Boston.

So who’s next on the list for the Red Sox?

“To me, internal GM candidates would be Eddie Romero, Brian Abraham, maybe Mike Groopman (doesn’t have as much time in org),” Masslive.com’s Chris Cotillo tweeted on X. “Red Sox will also certainly look outside, too.”

Earlier this month, WEEI’s Rob Bradford reported Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow plans to hire a general manager after the 2025 season.

The 45-year-old Breslow has overseen all baseball operations for the Red Sox since replacing Chaim Bloom in 2023.

If you’re looking for a dark-horse candidate, here’s one name to keep in mind: Ruben Amaro Jr.

Back in July, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal was reporting on possible GM candidates in the next hiring cycle. Amaro, who was the Red Sox first base coach in 2016 and 2017, made Rosenthal’s list.

“A number of former GMs with no ties to the Rockies, from Dayton Moore to James Click to Ruben Amaro Jr., also could be candidates, both in Washington and Colorado,” Rosenthal reported.

Amaro, 60, would be an interesting candidate. He previously served as general manager of the Phillies from 2008 to 2015, taking over for Hall of Famer Pat Gillick after Philadelphia won the 2008 World Series.

Amaro’s front office career began in 1998 as assistant GM for Ed Wade. Amaro, a Philadelphia native, spent seven seasons working with Wade, followed by three with Gillick.

Amaro’s career as an executive followed eight big-league seasons as an outfielder for the Phillies, California Angels and Cleveland Guardians.

After his time in Boston, Amaro spent the 2018 season as first base coach for the New York Mets. He moved back into the front office that fall, serving as an advisor to Mets rookie GM Brodie Van Wagenen.