Red Sox’s Craig Breslow Explains Theo Epstein’s Deadline Role

Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and his staff will have an interesting path to take before the MLB trade deadline, but they know they’ll have an experienced hand up top.

Theo Epstein this year joined Fenway Sports Group as a senior adviser and part-owner. It was made clear the former Boston general manager’s role was not exclusive to the Red Sox but also included all other FSG entities. However, it’s hard not to blame fans for wondering how active the three-time World Series champion is in day-to-day operations.

Breslow and Epstein worked together in the Chicago Cubs front office, and the former admitted the latter was a good person to have around.

“Theo is obviously a great resource with respect to approaching a deadline, to the numerous considerations that need to be factored in here, to providing me insight sometimes in terms of day-to-day minutia and often just kind of big picture,” Breslow told NESN’s Tom Caron and The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier on the “310 To Left” podcast. “Obviously a guy with an incredible résumé of success in this sport and in this city. But in terms of my relationship and communication with ownership, I try to be as proactive as possible and kind of lay out how I’m thinking about this, the different approaches that we can take.

“Look, there are limited number of paths here. There’s adding to the team, there’s trading away from the team and there’s do nothing. I am adamant about picking a lane and will remain so. But ownership is incredibly engaged. Our day-to-day interactions are typically focused on the team, and the game and the events. But John (Henry), and Mike (Gordon), and Sam (Kennedy) and Theo, they’re watching every single pitch. We’re commenting on Kutter (Crawford’s) efficiency, the ability for (Rafael Devers) to hit a ball a foot and a half outside 420-plus feet in New York. I think they are enjoying this successful run as much as we are.”

Breslow kept his options open weeks before the trade deadline, but it did seem like the Boston executive tipped his hand on the moves he planned for the team. Kennedy also seemed to indicate a clear goal for the Red Sox.

The front office has until July 30 to make moves, and Breslow could draw inspiration from Epstein to make an impactful trade that could benefit the club’s playoff pursuit.