Dave Dombrowski in Boston: 'Things sure changed in a hurry'

Bob Nightengale | USA TODAY Sports

Well, whatever David Dombrowski did to make Detroit Tigers owner Mike Ilitch hastily fire him as president and GM two weeks ago, as it turns out, he sure provided Dombrowski with a huge favor.

It took just days for Dombrowski to be heavily pursued by three teams, and Tuesday night, 14 days after being fired, the Boston Red Sox announced that Dombrowski will be formally introduced Wednesday as their new president of baseball operations.

Dombrowski actually was offered the job Sunday, but the announcement was delayed two days after clearance from the Commissioner's office, since no other candidates, or minorities, were interviewed.

"It's amazing how quickly things happened,'' Dombrowski told USA Today Sports. "It was a very quick decision. I did have other options, but this one stood out, to have the opportunity of joining such a storied franchise with its history and proud tradition. There was no sense in waiting.''

"I'm thrilled. I can't wait to get started.''

Dombrowski's first order of business will be looking for a general manager.

Ben Cherington resigned as general manager when he was informed of the announcement, despite Dombrowski reaching out Tuesday and inviting him to stay aboard.

"We offered Ben the opportunity to stay as GM,'' Dombrowski told USA TODAY Sports. "I had a lengthy conversation. He could have stayed. We like Ben. He's a good person. I don't know him very well, but I have the utmost respect for him and as a person.

"But I could understand it. It hit him very quickly. He was surprised.

"As president of baseball operations, you have control over making deals, and the final say in hiring. I understand it would be a transition with him.

"We have a good professional relationship, but he just felt at the time he really didn't want to stay on board.''

Dombrowski told USA TODAY Sports that he still plans to hire a GM, and won't try to do both roles as he did in Detroit. One of the leading GM candidates is Frank Wren, who worked together with Dombrowski in Florida.

It was in Miami where Dombrowski also got to know Red Sox owner John Henry, who was owner of the Marlins for three seasons while Dombrowski was the GM, leading the club to the 1997 World Series title before Henry's arrival. They stayed in close contact through the years, and when Dombrowski was fired on Aug. 5, Henry and the Red Sox were one of three teams who contacted him.

Dombrowski, who had a three-hour interview with the Red Sox on Thursday at the MLB owners' quarterly meetings, told USA TODAY Sports that he also had a formal interview with another club, and spoke with a third club. The clubs, according to a person familiar with the talks, were the Washington Nationals and Seattle Mariners.

The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the topic.

"I'm as excited as I could be,'' Dombrowski said. "It's a tremendous opportunity. Boston is a great baseball city. They support their club. It's exciting. They have a lot of good young players at the major-league level, and a lot at the minor-league level. It's a great opportunity.''

Dombrowski, who had been with the Tigers for 14 seasons, says he never really dreamed of being GM of the Red Sox, one of baseball's storied franchises. He stayed in contact with Henry over the years, he said, and had a strong relationship with chairman Tom Werner, but there was never a time when he ever thought of being reunited with Henry.

"We stayed in contact, and always maintained a good friendship,'' Dombrowski said. "I always had the utmost respect for (Henry). And I've gotten to know Tom over the years.''

Said Henry in a statement: "I have known Dave very well for a long time. Tom and I have no doubts that Dave is the right person to strengthen our baseball operations group going forward. He is one of the most highly regarded executives in all of baseball, and had options to go with other clubs. We feel very fortunate that he wanted to come to Boston, and wanted to further his career—now with the Red Sox—as one of the great architects of winning baseball clubs."

The Red Sox have won three World Series titles since 2004, including 2013, but have fallen on hard times in recent years. They are in danger of finishing in last place for the third time in four years, sitting with a 53-66 record this season, and last in the AL East.

And even though Henry said in June that Cherington's job was safe for the next few years, those years turned into two months.

"Although we have achieved tremendous success over the last 14 seasons,'' Werner said, "we had reached a clear internal consensus that we needed to enhance our baseball operation. In nearly four decades in the game, Dave is a proven winner and he can restore winning ways to Yawkey Way and help to fulfill the Red Sox goal, every year, to be playing meaningful games into October."

Meanwhile, Cherington, the Red Sox's golden boy when he led the Red Sox to the World Series, now is the latest to be hitting the unemployment line. Cherington was hired as executive vice president and GM after Theo Epstein left for the Chicago Cubs after the 2011 season. He has been with the Red Sox since 1999.

He will stay with the organization for at least a few weeks helping Dombrowski with the transition process.

"Ben Cherington is one of the finest individuals I have ever worked with, possessing a maturity and integrity second to none,'' Henry said. "Over 17 years with the Red Sox and in the four years as our general manager, he always put the best interests of our organization first and foremost, winning a World Series Championship in 2013."

Said Werner: "More importantly, he built a team that was embraced by the City of Boston in the midst of tragedy in a way that no city and championship club had ever had bonded together before. Ben's steady hand was at the tiller of that remarkable journey. We appreciate his many years of service, his substantial contributions to our organization over many years, and his willingness to assist Dave with the transition."

Dombrowski, who led the Tigers to two American League pennants and four consecutive division titles, was given the choice of assuming control now or waiting until the end of the season. He told Henry, Werner and Mike Gordon, president of Fenway Sports Group, that he'd prefer starting immediately.

"We talked about what ideal time was to start,'' Dombrowski said, "and I told them, 'Probably the sooner the better. Its gives me a better chance to analyze the organization the next six weeks.'''

Dombrowski, who will bring his family to the press conference at 2 p.m. (ET), said he also contacted manager John Farrell and had a lengthy conversation. Farrell, 53, underwent his first chemotherapy treatment Tuesday after being diagnosed with lymphoma, Stage 1.

"I just called to say hi, and see how he's doing,'' Dombrowski said. "We'll sit down at the next homestand and visit, and get a chance to talk.''

When asked if Farrell will be back next season, Dombrowski said: "He needs to get through this thing right now.''

Dombrowski won't have the opportunity to evaluate Farrell, who'll be out the rest of the season while undergoing treatment, but he will the rest of the organization. It'll be fascinating to see who comes with him from Detroit, and who leaves from Boston.

There will be changes.

There always are.

It's a tough business.

Sometimes, a cruel business.

If you don't win, you're out.

Just ask Dombrowski.

Three weeks ago, he was setting up the Tigers for the future by dealing away their prized commodities, David Price and Yoenis Cespedes.

Two weeks ago, he was fired.

Today, he's sitting atop the Red Sox hierarchy.

"Things,'' Dombrowski said, "sure changed in a hurry.''

Follow Nightengale on Twitter: @Bnightengale