Theo Epstein plans to return to Boston.
The former Red Sox general manager will join Fenway Sports Group as part owner and senior advisor. The conglomerate made the announcement Friday morning.
He will assume an advisory role across the ownership group’s holdings, including Liverpool FC, Pittsburgh Penguins, RFK Racing, TGL’s Boston Common Golf and the recently acquired stake in the PGA Tour.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan noted that although Epstein is not in charge of the Red Sox’ personnel decisions, he is a vocal voice. “They need to play a very important role” within the organization.
Mr. Epstein, who won two World Series championships as CEO of the Red Sox, worked in Major League Baseball as a special consultant to commissioner Rob Manfred and was instrumental in implementing the league’s pitch clock and other rule changes.
“It’s a great honor. I’m really excited,” Epstein said. According to Sportico. “I am thrilled to be joining such a dynamic, groundbreaking company across multiple sports that is doing so many innovative things and is at the cutting edge of everything happening in the sports world today. , I’m very excited. For me, it’s perfect and I was looking for a path to ownership.”
Epstein will advise the group’s owners, including John Henry, on “sports operations across the portfolio” and “strategic growth and investment initiatives,” according to a Fenway Sports Group press release. That’s what it means.
Mr. Epstein, who helped found the 2004 Red Sox team that broke the 86-year Bambino Curse, will forever be etched in Boston sports lore and won a title with the Red Sox in 2007.
The executive was hired as the Cubs’ president of baseball operations in 2011 and helped lift a long-standing curse when Chicago won the World Series in 2016, breaking a 108-year drought.
He is familiar with the Red Sox’ new management team, having hired Craig Breslow, the Red Sox’ new chief baseball officer while in Chicago, as the Cubs’ director of strategic initiatives. .
The Red Sox could get back to winning ways with Epstein’s help.
Boston is coming off back-to-back 78-84 seasons, but hasn’t made the playoffs since a disappointing showing in the 2021 ALCS.
