Paul Toboni didn’t waste much time making his presence felt in Washington, and now he’s doing something Boston fans know all too well is in short supply: talking plainly.
The former Red Sox assistant general manager, who was viewed as Craig Breslow’s likeliest internal candidate for a promotion to general manager, is now the president of baseball operations in the Nationals organization. He took over before the 2026 season, and in a short span he has already put his stamp on the roster. Toboni traded Jake Bennett to the Red Sox and later signed Cade Cavalli to a contract extension after a career year.
Washington still missed the playoffs in 2026 and finished fourth in the National League East, so the work is far from finished. But the Nationals do have pieces that could matter down the line, including Cavalli, James Wood, Keibert Ruiz and CJ Abrams if he isn’t traded. Toboni, though, is clearly pushing the organization toward a more direct relationship with its fan base while trying to build something sturdier.
On November 4, the Nationals released a letter from Toboni to fans. In it, he thanked supporters, praised his players, evaluated the club’s progress in his first year running baseball operations and laid out his commitment to moving the team forward. He also said:
"I wanted to be real with the fans about where we’re doing well and what we need to improve so they don’t feel like we’re misleading them."
That kind of candor stands out in a sport where front offices often hide behind polished talking points. Toboni has already backed up the message with action, too, signing center fielder Jacob Young to a four year, $23 million deal.
For Red Sox fans, the contrast is hard to miss. Breslow has drawn criticism for the way he communicates, with a style that can come off as stiff and overly academic in a setting that usually rewards clarity and feel. There have also been multiple leaks from the front office during his tenure, and the organization reportedly misled Rafael Devers about its plans for him while pursuing Alex Bregman before the 2025 season.
Boston has since exercised options on Breslow’s contract to keep him with the team through the 2030 season, which at least suggests the organization believes the issues can be managed. Still, it’s fair to wonder whether a more open, personable voice alongside him would have helped.
Maybe Toboni would have stayed in Boston had a promotion come earlier. Maybe not.
A jump to president of baseball operations is a tough opportunity to turn down no matter where you’re working. Either way, he’s now showing the kind of transparency that can win over a fan base, even after a 77-win season.
And if nothing else, he’s given baseball another reminder that communication matters just as much as the moves on the field.
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