Red Sox Front Office News: Taylor Smith Leaves for Athletics Job

The Boston Red Sox lost a key member of their front office on Monday, October 19, when the Athletics announced that Boston assistant general manager Taylor Smith will become the Athletics' new president of baseball operations. Smith, 31, spent the last two seasons working under Boston chief baseball officer Craig Breslow. At 31 years old, Taylor Smith will be the youngest president of baseball operations in Major League Baseball.





Who is Taylor Smith, the Red Sox assistant general manager leaving Boston?


Taylor Smith joined the Boston Red Sox two years ago, when Craig Breslow hired the executive as one of Boston's assistant general managers. Before Boston, Taylor Smith spent seven years working on the Tampa Bay Rays' research and development team, a background that fits the analytical direction of modern front offices.


The Athletics announced Taylor Smith's hiring on Monday morning, October 19. The Athletics needed a new leader of baseball operations after the club fired longtime general manager David Forst in August, ending a run in which Forst had served the Athletics in various capacities since 2000.


Why does Taylor Smith's exit matter for the Boston Red Sox?


Taylor Smith's departure is the second straight year the Boston Red Sox have lost an assistant general manager to a top job with another club. Last season, the Washington Nationals hired former Boston assistant general manager Paul Toboni as their president of baseball operations, just before Craig Breslow could appoint Toboni as Boston's general manager.


After losing Paul Toboni and Taylor Smith in back-to-back years, the Boston Red Sox are down to three assistant general managers from five. Boston's remaining assistant general managers are Raquel Ferreira, Eddie Romero and Michael Groopman. Per reports, the Athletics also targeted Michael Groopman for their vacancy before pursuing Taylor Smith instead.





What job is Taylor Smith taking with the Athletics?


Taylor Smith takes over an Athletics club playing its second straight season in Sacramento, California. The Athletics are expected to move to Las Vegas after the 2027 season and to debut in a new Las Vegas home in 2028, so Taylor Smith will lead the Athletics through the final Sacramento season and into the Las Vegas move.


The Athletics roster Taylor Smith inherits includes young talent such as first baseman Nick Kurtz and outfielder Lawrence Butler. For the Athletics, Taylor Smith's hiring continues a league-wide youth movement in front offices, following the path of his former Boston colleague Paul Toboni in Washington.





What is next for Craig Breslow and the Red Sox front office?


The Taylor Smith exit lands during a Craig Breslow Red Sox offseason in which Boston is already focused on improving a roster that needs more power. Craig Breslow must now decide whether to promote from within the Boston Red Sox front office, lean on Raquel Ferreira, Eddie Romero and Michael Groopman, or hire a replacement assistant general manager from outside the organization.


Boston also saw a familiar name resurface elsewhere in the American League East on Monday, October 19. The Baltimore Orioles welcomed former Boston executive Jared Banner as their new general manager under president of baseball operations Mike Elias, and Banner previously worked in the Boston Red Sox organization for 11 years, including during the 2007, 2013 and 2018 World Series seasons.




Frequently asked questions


How old is Taylor Smith? Taylor Smith is 31 years old, and the Athletics executive will be the youngest president of baseball operations in Major League Baseball.


Who replaces Taylor Smith with the Boston Red Sox? The Boston Red Sox have not announced a replacement for Taylor Smith. Boston's remaining assistant general managers under Craig Breslow are Raquel Ferreira, Eddie Romero and Michael Groopman.


When do the Athletics move to Las Vegas? The Athletics are expected to move to Las Vegas after the 2027 season and to debut in their new Las Vegas home in 2028, after playing in Sacramento.


Sources:

https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/athletics/athletics-news-new-president-of-baseball-operations-poached-from-red-sox

https://bosoxinjection.com/red-sox-lose-front-office-talent-to-as-watch-theo-epstein-disciple-return-to-al-east-as-orioles-gm

Location: Boston, MA, USA

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