Full Breakdown
Chad Tracy Named Permanent Manager as Red Sox Cement Leadership After Historic Turnaround
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Development
On September 22, 2026, the Boston Red Sox removed the “interim” label from Chad Tracy and signed him to a three-year contract through 2029, with a club option for 2030. The club also exercised its 2029 and 2030 options on chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, linking the two leaders for at least the next three seasons. Tracy becomes the franchise’s 49th manager as Boston heads into the postseason.
Background & Context
The Red Sox began the 2026 campaign with a 10-17 record, prompting the dismissal of manager Alex Cora on April 25, 2026. Tracy, then the manager of Triple-A Worcester, was promoted to interim manager the next day. Front office moves by Breslow, hired in 2023, combined with Tracy’s clubhouse leadership to spark a dramatic mid-season reversal.
Timeline
- April 25, 2026 – Tracy assumes interim duties.
- June 24, 2026 – Red Sox sit at 32-46, 15½ games out of the AL East lead.
- June 25, 2026 – Boston wins four straight against the Yankees, starting the turnaround.
- July 3 – August 7, 2026 – Red Sox post a 27-3 record (.900), the best 30-game stretch in franchise history.
- July 3 – July 22, 2026 – A 15-game winning streak ties the 1946 club record.
- September 22, 2026 – Tracy’s interim tag is removed; Breslow’s options are exercised.
Data & Statistics
- Record under Tracy’s interim tenure: 74-55 (second-best in the AL, fifth-best in MLB).
- Overall season record after the turnaround: 84-72, third in the AL East and securing the second wild-card spot.
- The 27-3 run produced a .900 winning percentage, the franchise’s highest over any 30-game span.
- Contract terms: three-year deal through 2029 with a club option for 2030 for both Tracy and Breslow.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Craig and Chad are two exceptionally talented leaders who have earned these opportunities in very different ways,” — Red Sox President
- “I think there was pretty much an understanding when I first got here that we’ve a lot of work to do, let’s focus on that. Let’s worry about the rest of the stuff later as it goes along,” — Chad Tracy
- “Chad, you came into an incredibly difficult situation in April and provided stability and leadership when this organization needed it most,” — Sam Kennedy, Red Sox president
- “It became pretty clear early on that Chad [Tracy] was the right person to lead this group,” — Craig Breslow
What’s Next
With the wild-card berth locked in, Boston is slated to open the postseason with a best-of-three series against the New York Yankees in the Bronx.