 In 2002 , the Red Sox asked the Yankees for permission to interview one of George Steinbrenner 's assistants , former Yankees general manager Gene Michael , for their vacant general manager position , but Steinbrenner declined their request . Boston Red Sox then hired Theo Epstein , a protégé of Red Sox President and CEO Larry Lucchino , as general manager , and at 28 years old , he was the youngest general manager in baseball history . 
