Red Sox hire Frank Wren as senior vice president of baseball operations

The Red Sox have hired former Braves general manager Frank Wren as their senior vice president of baseball operations, according to a team announcement. Wren is expected to serve in an advisory capacity to president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski and new general manager Mike Hazen.

According to Sean McAdam of Comcast Sportsnet New England, Wren will be based in Atlanta and work mostly in a scouting role.

Wren, 57, was believed to be a leading candidate to be hired as Boston's general manager, along with former Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd and Astros scouting director Quinton McCracken. The job went to Hazen, who has been in the Red Sox organization since 2006, with Wren joining the front office in another capacity.

Wren is one of five members of the Red Sox organization to have served as a general manager at some point in his career, joining Dombrowski, Hazen, former Royals general manager Allard Baird and former Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto. Dipoto is currently serving as a special assistant in Boston's organization but is considered a top candidate to be hired as the Mariners' general manager.

Wren served as the general manager of the Braves for seven seasons after working with Dombrowski in the Marlins and Expos front offices. He took a year off before jumping back in as a top executive with the Red Sox after the team hired Dombrowski in place of former general manager Ben Cherington.