Report: Red Sox to Hire Rays’ Chaim Bloom as Head of Baseball Operations

Kim Klement/USA Today Sports

The Red Sox will hire Chaim Bloom as the team's next head of baseball operations, according to multiple reports.

The New York Post's Joel Sherman was first to report the news.

Bloom, 36, comes to Boston after serving as the senior vice president of baseball operations for the Rays, second in command behind president Matthew Silverman. He spent 15 seasons in the Tampa Bay organization, beginning as an intern. Much of his work with the Rays was in player development, including three years as assistant director of minor league operations. He will succeed Dave Dombrowski, who was dismissed by Boston in early September after a disappointing follow-up season after winning the World Series last year.

The Yale graduate was considered a top candidate last year for the GM vacancies with the Mets and Giants. 

The Rays, despite having the lowest Opening Day payroll in baseball this season at around $49 million, won 96 games and clinched the second wild-card spot in the American League. Teams in large markets have in recent years hired executives from cash-strapped teams in an effort to apply some of the same philosophies with greater financial resources. Former Rays GM Andrew Friedman is now the president of baseball operations for the Dodgers and Farhan Zaidi, formerly with the A’s, is now in charge of the Giants. 

Red Sox ownership has expressed an interest in shedding salary after beginning last season with the highest payroll in baseball. Team president Sam Kennedy said earlier this month that it would be “difficult” to have both J.D. Martinez and Mookie Betts on the roster next season.