Former top Cubs executive looks to be on borrowed time with the Red Sox

As disastrous as the last month has been for the Chicago Cubs, it's nothing compared to what's going on in Boston these days.

The Red Sox, once considered a legitimate preseason contender to win the American League pennant this year, are 10 games below .500 and in last place in the AL East. They rank ahead of only the perpetually rebuilding Angels in the win column in the Junior Circuit, plagued by injuries to their stars (Garrett Crochet and Roman Anthony) and underperformances up and down the roster.

Having already dismissed manager Alex Cora and the majority of his coaching staff in April, there is now a large portion of the fanbase calling for the job of chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, the Cubs' former director of pitching.

To quell the noise, Red Sox sources confirmed that they won't be firing Breslow. Because, you know, it's always a promising sign when you have to say that about your top front office executive in early June.

Craig Breslow hasn't turned into the front office wizard most thought he'd be when he left the Cubs

Breslow's departure from Chicago was a big deal; he was Jed Hoyer's right-hand man prior to taking the top job in Boston, and most give him credit for completely resetting the organization's pitching infrastructure. At the time, most feared that the Cubs couldn't replace his mind, even after they hired Carter Hawkins to serve as general manager.

However, being the second guy in line and the one calling the shots are two very different roles, and it seems Breslow wasn't ready for the transition. The Red Sox did make the playoffs last year but got knocked out by their archrival (the Yankees) in the Wild Card Round, at which point they made a number of blockbuster moves over the offseason to improve. Yet here they are, lingering in last place.

Breslow's most infamous move in Boston was the Rafael Devers trade, which has aged so poorly in so little time that it's hard to think of a modern analogue (save for maybe another famous Red Sox blunder with Mookie Betts). Seriously, whatever you think of Hoyer's worst moves, you haven't seen a trade tree like this one.

Given the organization's decision to move on from Cora, a manager Breslow inherited -- not to mention the impending lockout -- it's likely true that the CBO is safe for the rest of the season. Still, with so many moves blowing up in his face all at once, it's hard to imagine he'll still be running the show in Boston next year if the Red Sox don't miraculously turn their sinking ship around.

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