Tampa Bay Rays executive Chaim Bloom is the favorite to become the next general manager of the Boston Red Sox, a source tells ESPN's Jeff Passan.
Bloom, 36, is the Rays' senior vice president of baseball operations. He has spent 15 years with the team in capacities including minor league operations, player development, contract negotiations, salary arbitration and international scouting.
He has operated in a front office unlike Boston's in that the Rays have a low budget and remain competitive. This season, they had the lowest payroll on opening day at $49.08 million, compared with the Red Sox, who had the highest payroll at $187.