
Jed Hoyer made hard trades in Cubs rebuild, praises ‘conviction' of Craig Breslow's Devers trade
At the 2021 trade deadline, fans lambasted the Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations for breaking up a beloved group of World Series-winning players. Hoyer viewed the trades at the time as painful but necessary moves.
Advertisement
In that vein, he applauded Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow with unusual candor for Breslow's 'conviction' in pulling off one of baseball's most shocking trades this season. Last month, Breslow traded Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for pitchers Kyle Harrison and Jordan Hicks and prospects James Tibbs and Jose Bello.
'He's been bold with the (Garrett) Crochet deal, and obviously with the Devers deal, I loved the conviction he showed on that deal,' Hoyer said Sunday as the Red Sox avoided a sweep by the Cubs with a 6-1 win.
In Chicago at the 2021 deadline, Hoyer made major moves in an attempt to turn around the Cubs franchise, but it involved some uncomfortable realities. Hoyer understood when he took over for Theo Epstein after the 2020 season that he'd have to bear the burden of change in Chicago. He knew it would be wildly unpopular trading Anthony Rizzo to the New York Yankees, Javier Báez to the New York Mets and Kris Bryant to the Giants in the span of two days, all with an eye toward the future.
The biggest return among those trades was getting then-prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong from the Mets. Crow-Armstrong is vying for NL MVP as the Cubs surge, nearly 20 games over .500 and in first place in the National League Central.
During that time of tumultuous change in Chicago, Breslow served as an assistant general manager under Hoyer and was at the center of those moves as part of a small, trusted inner circle for Hoyer.
Hoyer described Breslow's role in helping retool the Cubs organization, drawing some parallels to what Breslow is doing in Boston.
'He was a big part of the decision to trade away our core World Series guys,' Hoyer said of Breslow. 'I think he saw the reaction fan-base-wise — there was real frustration and anger — but ultimately, we as a group made the decision that it was time. It was time to reset and bring in new talent and put the organization in a different direction. He saw that as the right thing to do at the time.'
It's been roughly 21 months since Breslow worked for the Cubs, but in so many ways, his five seasons in Chicago were formative years for him as a front-office executive.
More than most, Hoyer can relate to the hard decisions Breslow has felt necessary to make in Boston.
Hoyer has gone from Breslow's mentor in Chicago to a rival executive in different leagues, but he has watched from afar as Breslow has been aggressive in changing the front-office structure, retooling the roster with major trades and revamping the organization's pitching infrastructure to bring the Red Sox back into contention.
Advertisement
With the second half underway, the Red Sox are fighting for a spot in the playoffs for the first time since 2021. Breslow has some major decisions to make as his second trade deadline as chief baseball officer of the Red Sox approaches next week, but he has already proved a willingness to be bold.
Not every trade works out; that's a reality of the business. Many across baseball criticized Breslow for the Devers deal. Hoyer saw the move as an opportunity that even experienced executives might have shied away from.
'He felt like he was doing the absolute right thing for the franchise, and those are hard decisions,' Hoyer said of the deal. 'When you're doing something you know in the short term could frustrate some people but you totally believe is in the best interest of the organization, those are hard decisions. When I see other executives make decisions like that, I have so much respect because I know what goes into it from a personal standpoint.'
Hoyer, a New Hampshire native who went to Wesleyan University in Connecticut and spent seven seasons in the Red Sox front office from 2002 to 2009, working under Epstein and serving as co-general manager in 2005 alongside Ben Cherington, has about as good an understanding of the Boston market as there is.
But he also understands well how Breslow operates.
When Breslow's circuitous 17-year pitching career ended in 2018 with the Toronto Blue Jays' Triple-A affiliate, Epstein, the Cubs president of baseball operations at the time, recruited Breslow to an entry-level front-office role auditing the Cubs' pitching infrastructure.
As a player, Breslow was widely known as one of the smartest and most analytically minded athletes, one who first played for Epstein's Red Sox in 2006. He quickly rose through the Cubs front office, becoming an assistant general manager in 2021. After Epstein left, the team promoted Hoyer to the top role, and Breslow was a key part of Chicago's decision-making until he was hired by Boston in November 2023. Epstein, now a part-owner in Fenway Sports Group, has served as a mentor for Breslow over the last two years.
Advertisement
As Hoyer worked alongside Breslow in Chicago, he could tell it wouldn't be long before Breslow acquired enough experience to run his own team.
'I always had a sense we were renting him because it was obvious he was going to get this opportunity really quickly, just given the number of people on this planet who have his skill set and pitched in the big leagues for 12 years,' Hoyer said.
In his first season in Boston, Breslow hired an outside auditing firm to evaluate the front office and get a better feel for how the organization operated. It was a contentious time for many longtime employees but a process he felt necessary to streamline baseball operations.
'Year 1 is such an evaluative period,' Hoyer said. 'I talked to Craig so many times about that last year, where you've got to get in there and learn what's going on and sort of take it all in and figure it all out. You want to make change quickly, but you also realize that it takes time. And the last thing you want to do is make bad decisions because you were hasty. I think as you get into Year 2 and beyond, it starts to become your organization.'
The trade deadline last year didn't go as Breslow hoped, adding three pitchers — James Paxton, Lucas Sims and Luis García — who were all quickly injured as the big-league club faded down the stretch. Breslow lamented not being as aggressive as he should have been in his first year fully in charge of a club.
He learned from that deadline with an aggressive move over the winter, trading the team's two most recent first-round draft picks in addition to two other prospects for Crochet on the final day of the Winter Meetings. Six months later, he pulled off the Devers bombshell, acknowledging mistakes in communication with Devers along the way.
Breslow has been far from perfect. He's in only his second season leading a baseball team. Though Breslow was criticized by many for the trade, one former colleague has been impressed with what he has done so far.
'I learned a lot from him. Hopefully, he learned a lot from us,' Hoyer said. 'I think he's done a fantastic job. And I think he's going to be doing this job at a high level for a long time. He's made really hard decisions.'
(Top photo of Jed Hoyer: Kamil Krzaczynski / Imagn Images)

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Newsweek
a few seconds ago
- Newsweek
BetMGM Bonus Code NW150: Claim $150 Bonus For Any Of 16 MLB Games
The BetMGM bonus code NW150 will unlock access to a $150 bonus or $1,500 bet offer for any of the 16 MLB games on Tuesday. The BetMGM bonus code NW150 will unlock access to a $150 bonus or $1,500 bet offer for any of the 16 MLB games on Tuesday. New players can lock in one of two welcome offers when using the BetMGM bonus code NW150 to sign up. Unlock a $150 bonus offer or a $1,500 first bet safety net, depending on your location. Click here to start the registration process and use one of these offers to bet on any MLB or WNBA game taking place on Monday. New users in Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia will receive the $150 bonus offer. Bet $10 on any game to secure the bonuses with a win. Users in other states can use the $1,500 first bet safety net to start. Bet on MLB games like Rays-Yankees, Dodgers-Reds, Cubs-Brewers and more. The playoff race is heating up and it is an urgent time around the league with the trade deadline looming. The WNBA delivers three betting options as well: Valkyries-Dream, Sky-Mystics and Aces-Sparks. BetMGM Bonus Code NW150 For July 29 MLB Games BetMGM Bonus Code NW150 New User Offer Bet $10, Get $150 Bonus (MI, NJ, PA, WV Only) or $1,500 First-Bet Offer In-App Promos Parlay Boost Token, MLB Daily Swing, etc. Terms and Conditions 21+ and Present in Participating States Bonus Last Verified On July 29, 2025 Information Confirmed By Newsweek Sports Betting Most users will get the $1,500 first bet offer, so let's run through how to use that first. You will be able to bet up to that amount for a chance to earn a large payout to start your account. A losing bet will trigger a bonus refund. As an example, if you bet something like $1,000 on the Cubs to move back into a first-place tie with a win against the Brewers, you will collect a large cash payout if the Cubs win. If the Brewers win, you will get your $1,000 stake back in the form of a bonus to use later on. If you get the $150 offer, you must win your initial $10 bet to get the reward. In this case, perhaps you like the Phillies at -200 to rebound after losing the opener of their three-game series vs. the White Sox. Make sure to look at a wide variety of markets and place your bet once you find something you believe has a good chance of settling as a win. Any bonus bets you receive with either offer will be valid for seven days before they expire from your account. Odds For Top MLB Tuesday Matchups The three aforementioned games are important for playoff races across MLB. The Mets-Padres game is also a meaningful matchup for the National League standings. Let's take a look at the odds for the most important games for Tuesday. Activate your welcome offer by betting on any of these markets: Guardians (-220) vs. Rockies (+180) Diamondbacks (+115) vs. Tigers (-140) Rays (+160) vs. Yankees (-190) Dodgers (-150) vs. Reds (+125) Phillies (-175) vs. White Sox (+145) How To Sign Up With BetMGM Bonus Code NW150 Click here to go to the registration page and claim this offer from BetMGM Sportsbook. All you have to do from there is follow the steps below: Enter bonus code NW150 Provide basic personal information (name, date of birth, address, email, etc.) Make initial deposit with secure payment method (credit card, debit card, online banking, PayPal account, etc.) Make initial bet to activate $150 bonus offer or $1,500 first bet safety net Newsweek may earn an affiliate commission if you sign up through the links in this article. See the sportsbook operator's terms and conditions for important details. Sports betting operators have no influence over newsroom coverage.


Newsweek
a few seconds ago
- Newsweek
Red Sox Vet Backs Bryce Harper After Heated Confrontation With MLB Commissioner
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Just after Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred walked out of a clubhouse meeting with the Philadelphia Phillies, which featured a heated confrontation with superstar Bryce Harper, he went on to address the Boston Red Sox. The commissioner was making his informal rounds to meet with every team throughout the season, as is customary. The Red Sox were in town to play the Phillies, so after meeting with the home team, Manfred checked in with Boston. At the time, the Red Sox had no sense that Harper had interrupted Manfred's message to the Phillies by standing in his face and ordering him out of the clubhouse if he wanted to discuss a potential MLB salary cap, as reported by ESPN's Jeff Passan. "When Rob came into our clubhouse, it was right after," Red Sox veteran pitcher Lucas Giolito said, per Chris Cotillo of MassLive. "He just gave the spiel about the growth of the game and areas they're looking to improve, especially when it comes to how baseball is being consumed. Media and TV deals, things like that. That was pretty much it. I think he avoided getting into the weeds when it comes to future CBA negotiations." Giolito added that he had no indication of the dramatic standoff in the Phillies clubhouse until the news was reported publicly on Monday. But as a former member of the MLB Players Association's executive subcommittee, the pitcher made his stance on a potential salary cap very clear. FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 20: Lucas Giolito #54 of the Boston Red Sox looks on during a Spring Training workout at JetBlue Park at Fenway South in Fort Myers, Florida on February 20, 2025.... FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 20: Lucas Giolito #54 of the Boston Red Sox looks on during a Spring Training workout at JetBlue Park at Fenway South in Fort Myers, Florida on February 20, 2025. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston) More Malhorta/Getty "That's the one thing that can kind of piss players off," Giolito said, per Cotillo. "You're talking about a billion-dollar industry. These team valuations keep going up and I think that's something that can get annoying sometimes, especially when it gets to the point of, speaking as a potential owner, 'We need to do the salary cap or the salary floor to see more growth.'" "So I get where Harper's coming from there," Giolito added, according to Cotillo. By standing up against a potential salary cap, Harper seemingly spoke for most players, who generally feel that imposing one would ultimately hurt their earnings. Other players might not have been willing to share that opinion so strongly with the commissioner, but leaders like Giolito seem to have Harper's back after he was pushed to do so. More MLB: Braves Blockbuster? Atlanta Ace Could Be Valuable Trade Deadline Piece


Business Upturn
4 minutes ago
- Business Upturn
Who was Ryne Sandberg's first wife? A look at his early marriage and divorce
Ryne Sandberg, the legendary Major League Baseball (MLB) Hall of Famer known as 'Ryno,' had a remarkable career as a second baseman, primarily with the Chicago Cubs. While his professional achievements, like the iconic 'Sandberg Game' in 1984, are well-documented, his personal life has also drawn interest, particularly regarding his first marriage. So, who was Ryne Sandberg's first wife? Let's dive into the details. Ryne Sandberg's First Wife: Cindy White Ryne Sandberg's first wife was Cindy White. The couple were high school sweethearts, having met during their teenage years in Spokane, Washington, where Sandberg attended North Central High School. Their relationship blossomed early, and they tied the knot in 1979, the same year Sandberg began his professional baseball career after being drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies. This marriage coincided with the start of his journey in the minor leagues, marking a significant period in both his personal and professional life. Life Together and Family Ryne and Cindy Sandberg's marriage lasted for 16 years, from 1979 until their divorce in July 1995. During this time, they welcomed two children, Justin and Lindsey. Sandberg was deeply devoted to his children, and his love for them played a significant role in his life decisions, including his surprising retirement from baseball in 1994. According to reports, Sandberg's desire to prioritize his family, particularly his children, was a key factor in his decision to step away from the game at the peak of his career. Challenges and Divorce The marriage between Ryne and Cindy faced challenges, particularly in the early 1990s. Rumors of personal turmoil, including alleged affairs, surfaced in the media, contributing to speculation about Sandberg's abrupt retirement in 1994. While these rumors were never fully substantiated, they added strain to their relationship. Cindy filed for divorce in December 1993, and although the couple briefly reconciled, she filed again shortly after Sandberg's retirement announcement on June 13, 1994. The divorce was finalized in July 1995, marking the end of their 16-year marriage. In a 1995 interview, Cindy addressed the rumors and gossip surrounding their split, expressing her desire to set the record straight. She emphasized her perspective as the ex-wife of a baseball star and highlighted the challenges of their high-profile life. Despite the divorce, Cindy spoke positively about her children and her gratitude for their shared history. Ryne Sandberg's Life After the Divorce Following the divorce, Ryne Sandberg married Margaret Koehnemann in August 1995, just a month after his divorce from Cindy was finalized. Margaret brought three children from a previous marriage—B.R., Adriane, and Steven—into their blended family, and together, Ryne and Margaret raised five children. The couple settled in Lake Bluff, Illinois, where Sandberg remained active in the community, including supporting the Lake Bluff Youth Baseball Association. Sandberg's return to baseball in 1996 was partly influenced by his new marriage and a renewed passion for the game. With Margaret's support, he rejoined the Chicago Cubs for the 1996 and 1997 seasons, finishing his career on a high note before retiring permanently in 1997. His Hall of Fame induction in 2005 and the retirement of his number 23 by the Cubs cemented his legacy as one of baseball's greatest second basemen. Cindy White's Life Post-Divorce After the divorce, Cindy White maintained a relatively low profile. She focused on raising Justin and Lindsey, who remained close to their father. In court proceedings in 1996, Cindy expressed concerns about the children's involvement in Sandberg's baseball life, preferring they maintain their regular activities rather than travelling to games. Despite their differences, both Ryne and Cindy prioritized their children's well-being. Ahmedabad Plane Crash