An unexpected name has emerged in the Red Sox’s search for a new head of baseball operations.
According to Major League sources, former Giants and Phillies manager Gabe Kapler has interviewed with the Red Sox about leading their baseball operations department.
The 48-year-old Kapler has been a manager for the past six years – two seasons with the Phillies, four with the Giants – but was fired by San Francisco at the end of this season.
Before taking over as manager, Kapler worked in the Dodgers’ front office as farm director from 2014 to 2017. A playing career followed that spanned twelve seasons in the major leagues (1998–2010), with a one-year break to manage the Red Sox’s Single-A affiliate in Greenville in 2007. Kapler played for the Red Sox from 2003-2006.
An expected candidate will apparently not be there. Multiple industry sources confirmed a report from MassLive that former Marlins general manager Kim Ng — who parted ways with that team this week rather than return with a one-year shared option — has turned down the chance to continue in the position with the Red Sox .
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Kim Ng was the first female major league general manager with the Marlins from 2021 to 2023. Lynne Sladky/Associated Press
Kapler joins Cubs assistant general manager Craig Breslow, Twins GM Thad Levine and Guardians special assistant Neal Huntington as outside candidates who have interviewed. Blue Jays vice president James Click also spoke with the Red Sox but declined to continue on the job.
The Sox have also interviewed at least three internal candidates: assistant GM Eddie Romero, assistant GM Michael Groopman and vice president of player development and scouting Paul Toboni.
Another potential candidate, former Phillies GM and current Brewers special assistant Matt Klentak, has not been contacted by the Red Sox, according to major league sources.
Klentak is a Medfield native whose acquisitions of Bryce Harper, Zack Wheeler and JT Realmuto, as well as the long-term signing of Aaron Nola, helped lay the foundation for the Phillies’ current two-year run deep into October.
The Sox’ search appears to be nearing or at the end of its first phase. Multiple sources believe the Sox will let candidates know early next week whether they will be invited to participate in a second round of interviews.
Alex Speier can be reached at [email protected]. follow him @alexspeier.