Toboni: Not just a Jabroni for POBO

[imref]

Passan:

BREAKING: The Washington Nationals are finalizing a deal to name Paul Toboni their new head of baseball operations, sources tell ESPN. Toboni, 35, rose rapidly to become assistant general manager for the Boston Red Sox and is widely regarded as one of the best young executives in MLB.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Paul Taboni new head of baseball operations per Passan.

Jabroni?

[varoadking]

Passan:

Another low bidder?

[JCA-CrystalCity]

https://www.newsweek.com/sports/red-sox-executive-to-leave-organization-for-national-league-report-10483155

35 year old red Sox assistant gm

Toboni, 35, was the favorite to be the general manager under Boston's Chief Baseball Officer, Craig Breslow, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. Instead, he will depart for the Nationals — one of two teams looking for a head of baseball operations this offseason. The Baltimore Orioles are the other.

[Kevrock]

Glad we didn’t go internal.

JCA, got any insight?

[JCA-CrystalCity]

None. I will  look at SoSH after the game. A google found a couple articles about him before today. Masslive and si. Chris Cotillo might be a good read

[Slateman]

From intern to PoBO in ten years seems too quick to me.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

From intern to PoBO in ten years seems too quick to me.

if you buy Breslow wanted him for GM, then he seems confident to pass on that for a POBO shot

[JCA-CrystalCity]

https://www.sonsofsamhorn.net/index.php?threads/in-defense-of-the-gm-and-the-manager.46524/page-5#post-6875278

Going back to 9/14, Boston Globe was reporting he was the favorite for Boston GM but the Nats were also after him for the same role. Apparently, we upped the offer to POBO.

Toboni is only 35 years old and appears to be a rising star in the baseball world. The Sox fired chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom in 2023 and Toboni generated some interest for that job, even though he would have been only 33 years old at that time, when he was Boston’s vice-president of amateur scouting and player development.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/09/nationals-finalizing-deal-with-paul-toboni-as-new-head-of-baseball-operations.html

[JCA-CrystalCity]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/09/24/nationals-baseball-operations-hire-paul-toboni/

Toboni helped oversee a stellar draft and player development system in Boston. It still remains possible that the team hires a general manager as well.

The 35-year-old began as an intern and an area scout for Boston in 2015 and worked his way up — first in dealing with the draft, then adding responsibilities with player development — to being a senior VP and assistant GM with the Red Sox.

Mark Lerner apparently talked to Dombrowski about the  search. He may have had insights into the Red Sox organization.

[varoadking]

Now he needs to fire everyone else...

[JCA-CrystalCity]

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46367899/source-nationals-bringing-paul-toboni-lead-operations

Passan:

Though Toboni's background is in scouting -- he moved from intern to area scout, then ascended to assistant scouting director and scouting director -- he took on a larger portfolio as vice president of scouting and player development before being named assistant GM for Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow.
...
The drastic improvement of Boston's farm system came under Toboni, who was in charge of the draft when they selected outfielder Roman Anthony, shortstop Marcelo Mayer, infielder Kristian Campbell, left-handers Payton Tolle and Connelly Early as well as the prospects sent to the Chicago White Sox in a trade for ace Garrett Crochet.

[Smithian]

It's a positive sign the Red Sox thought of him highly. Their system has cranked out lots of talent.

I can get excited about this hire, and now I would be very excited if we heard the Nationals were hiring a full time (not split between Nats/Lerner Enterprises) CEO or COO who sets organization direction and budgets. Rizzo clearly had too much on his plate, let's let this guy focus on the baseball side, not trying to fight for budget.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Post article mentions that there's still a hole on the business side even after Toboni.

[skippy1999]

Ok he seems to be very well regarded and bonus, he's cute Is there now a glimmer of hope for us?? I sure hope so because this team bummed me out so much I really lost interest this year

[Natsinpwc]

Ok he seems to be very well regarded and bonus, he's cute Is there now a glimmer of hope for us?? I sure hope so because this team bummed me out so much I really lost interest this year

Amen.  Since he he is cute can we have a cute on field female reporter to balance it out.

[para]

The Red Sox have been picking good GM's for years. Some have changed the fortunes of several teams Theo Epstein Cubs and Dave Dombrowski Phillies currently.  I'll take him over any of our current brain trust. What he makes Lerner's problem

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Hoyer is another Red Sox front office guy. Cherington.  It's a good chain

[IanRubbish]

Seems like a solid choice, but he’s young and will be dealing with org dysfunction he’s never witnessed before. 

Take it he realizes how awful the manager and coaches are.

[varoadking]

Take it he realizes how awful the manager and coaches are.

...and the players...

[skippy1999]

Seems like a solid choice, but he’s young and will be dealing with org dysfunction he’s never witnessed before. 

Take it he realizes how awful the manager and coaches are.

Good thing he gets to hire new ones

[imref]

lot of background an info on the search from TalkNats:

https://www.talknats.com/2025/09/24/per-reports-nationals-chose-paul-toboni-as-head-of-baseball-operations/

[Slateman]

https://xcancel.com/britt_ghiroli/status/1971000947506807242?s=46&t=1M_hPOxGeEOJCVnR8Ey9Mg

Britt Ghiroli
@Britt_Ghiroli
8m
Paul Toboni will be named president of baseball operations for the Nationals and will hire a GM under him, sources say. A huge jump for Toboni, who was the AGM in Boston

[imref]

Nussbaum says Mark Lerner met with Dave Dombrowski in August for advice on the hiring process.

Haven't seen any reporting on if they still plan to hire a GM.

[welch]

Nussbaum says Mark Lerner met with Dave Dombrowski in August for advice on the hiring process.

Haven't seen any reporting on if they still plan to hire a GM.

I hope they do. Hope Toboni is to be the President, bringing in his own GM and staff.