For many, the initial reaction to the news that Chad Tracy was having the interim tag removed from his title and being made full-time manager of the Red Sox might have been: What took so long?
Tracy took over for Alex Cora in the final week of April, and though it took a couple of months, engineered a stunning turnaround, thus saving the 2026 season.
It was clear for some time that Tracy deserved some job security, but for whatever reason, the Red Sox elected to wait until the final week of the season was award him that.
Better late than never, one supposes.
The move was welcomed in the clubhouse, as Tracy had long ago earned the respect and admiration of the players. Given that the man he replaced was also liked and respected, that says a great deal. Most established players were not happy with the change when it happened back in April and that was no reflection on Tracy. Rather, it reflected their regard for Cora.
The fact that Tracy won them over is further evidence of the kind of job he's done.
Ownership and management could have waited to see how the Red Sox fare this postseason before making a commitment to Tracy. They could have waited to see what other options were available on the open market.
Wisely, they didn't. Tracy deserved his appointment.
He's communicated well, been unafraid to make some tough personnel calls and generally proven to be a good in-game manager. Add in the familiarity with the organization and his background with many of the team's young core of players, and it only made sense to provide him with a measure of security.
As for his boss, Craig Breslow, he, too, was deserving of having the team pick up his remaining two option years. While the roster looked like it was poorly constructed in the first three months of the season, it merely needed time to jell. And, with the benefit of hindsight, many of his moves last offseason (Willson Contreras, Sonny Gray, Ranger Suarez) were productive ones.
Breslow and Tracy has built a strong relationship, and that's no small thing. One need only look at the strained working environment that existed between Cora and Chaim Bloom, and later, Cora and Breslow, to see how such dysfunction can ruin a season.
Next up: we'll find whether the team's rejuvenation can carry on into October.
