It didn’t take long for Gabe Kapler’s name to pop back up in the baseball world.
According to multiple reports, Kapler interviewed with the Boston Red Sox about leading their baseball operations department.
Kapler, 48, is open to pursuing a number of opportunities — be it in a front office, player development or managing again, per an industry source.
The Boston Globe was the first to report the Red Sox’s consideration of Kapler.
Kapler played four seasons with the Red Sox and was on the 2004 team that broke the 86-year championship drought. He managed the Giants from 2020 until he was dismissed with three games left in the 2023 season. Before that, he managed the Phillies for two years.
According to MassLive, Kapler is likely considered a long shot to land the Red Sox job.
The Red Sox job became vacant when the club dismissed Chaim Bloom after four seasons. Bloom, who came from Tampa Bay, was tasked with restocking a barren farm system without completely bottoming out. Under him, the Red Sox traded Mookie Betts, but also reached the 2021 ALCS and now have a top farm system, per Fangraphs.
Bloom’s dismissal continues a recent trend of rash decisions from Red Sox ownership; Boston has had three top baseball decision-makers since 2011. Given that instability, at least nine potential candidates have reportedly removed themselves from consideration. Most recently, Kim Ng declined to put her name in the running, per The Globe.
Craig Breslow, another former Red Sox, has become a top option, per reports.
Kapler’s playing career arc included a brief, unique foray into minor league coaching. After four seasons with the Red Sox, he managed their Class-A affiliate in 2007 before playing three more years. Despite the turnover within the Red Sox organization, he has likely maintained relationships with some in the franchise since then.
Kapler has not only the institutional knowledge with the Red Sox organization and coaching chops, but also executive experience. With the Dodgers, he spent four years as the director of player development, espousing his philosophies on dieting, wellness and training processes to LA’s prospects. When he managed the Giants, he had a hand in offseason planning and personnel decisions.
In his various roles, Kapler has worked with esteemed executives like Andrew Friedman, Farhan Zaidi and Scott Harris. And with Alex Cora entrenched, there would be a former teammate of his in the Red Sox’s dugout.
The Giants went 295-248 in four years under Kapler.