Red Sox fire baseball boss Chaim Bloom after nearly four seasons

The Boston Red Sox fired chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom on Thursday after four up-and-down seasons that included a pair of last-place finishes and a 2023 that will almost certainly end without a playoff berth.

Bloom, 40, joined the Red Sox after they fired general manager Dave Dombrowski in September 2019, a year after they won their fourth World Series in 15 years. He found success in small markets with Tampa Bay as the antithesis of the fearless Dombrowski: methodical, patient and ready to rebuild a farm system while still finding success in the major leagues.

But within months of arriving, with ownership emphasizing financial flexibility, Bloom traded star outfielder Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The move loomed over his tenure as Boston finished in last place in a 2021 in which he led Houston to six games in the American League Championship Series. The Red Sox, who were at the top of the wild-card race last week, have lost six of their last seven.

The firing surprised several organization officials, who believed that despite the lack of success in the major leagues, the future of the Red Sox (with a much-improved farm system and significant room to spend) is improving. In a statement, owner John Henry said Bloom “set the stage for the future,” but that wasn’t enough to save his job.

“While parting ways is not taken lightly, today signals a new direction for our club,” Henry said. “Our organization has significant expectations on the field and while Chaim’s efforts to revitalize our baseball infrastructure have helped set the stage for the future, today we will begin the search for new leadership. Everyone who knows Chaim has a deep appreciation and respect for the kind person he is. “His time with us will always be marked by his professionalism, integrity and an unwavering respect for our club and his legacy.”