If weve learned anything in the last month, its that things can change in a hurry.It wasnt long ago that there was speculation that Craig Breslow would not survive a season in which the Red Sox failed to make the postseason.But the teams U-turn, taking them from 14 games under .500 to the second wild card team, one close enough to breathe down the Yankees neck, has completely altered the picture.Theres still two months remaining in the regular season, and given that the Red Sox are currently favored to reach the playoffs calculated at 69 percent before Thursdays win it should stand to reason that Breslows job appears safe.Back in June, it seemed as if the trade deadline was going to serve as a referendum on Breslows job security play in October and he was likely safe; fail to reach the postseason and it was probable hed be gone. Thats not the question any more.There is, however, still plenty on the line by Monday evening and thats Breslows legacy.Since being named chief baseball officer in the winter of 2023, Breslow has overseen two and a half seasons. His work in the offseason has generally been very good.Last winter alone, Breslow acquired, either through trade or free agency: Sonny Gray, Ranger Suarez, Willson Contreras, Caleb Durbin and Jake Bennett.The offseason before, he added Garrett Crochet, Aroldis Chapman and, however briefly, Alex Bregman.Full marks there. Breslow overhauled the starting rotation, the back of the bullpen, and though a case could be made that he should have done more to boost the offense, the acquisition of Contreras has had a major impact on the 2026 team with two more years of control remaining.But its one thing to make successful trades (and signings) in the offseason, and its another to make them at the deadline. And its there that Breslow needs to improve.Improving the roster in November, December and January allows for more leeway. Theres plenty of time to wait out the free agent market and react to what other teams have done. The deadline is nowhere near as forgiving: most moves get done in the final 96 hours, and timing is everything. It requires quick adjustments, good instincts and the ability to act decisively within a brief window.To date, Breslow hasnt shown himself capable of doing that.Breslows first deadline really shouldnt count against him. At the time, the Red Sox were barely holding on to the third wild card. There was no consensus that the team was worst investing, and so Breslows list of pickups were mostly depth moves: Danny Jansen, Lucas Sims, Luis Garcia. Nobody expected that group to move the needle and they didnt by the first week of September, they had dipped to .500 and thats where they finished.Last year, however, was different. The Red Sox were better positioned, and yet Breslow failed to make any significant moves. Starter Dustin May performed poorly and Steven Matz was merely an effective middle reliever.This summer, the pressure is on. The teams climb back into contention has the feel of legitimacy and the American League lacks a dominant team. If there were ever a year in which a wild card team could make a true run for the pennant, its this one.First, however, they need help.To his credit, Breslow struck first last weekend, sending Connelly Early to Washington for infielder Curtis Mead. You can argue that Breslow gave up more than he should have, but you have to admire his aggressiveness to fill an obvious need.We know what happened next: two plate appearances into his Red Sox tenure, Mead was struck on the left wrist by a 95 mph fastball, resulting in a broken wrist. The hope is hell return in late September, but thats no guarantee.Breslow doesnt deserve blame for a freak injury, but the cold hard truth is that, for the time being, the Red Sox are down one valuable trade chip (Early) and without the services of the player for whom he was traded. In a best case scenario, theyre right back where they started.Its doubtful that Breslow is done. By all accounts, the Red Sox continue to have trade talks in search of a shortstop or a catcher, and perhaps some additional pitching, too. The majority of the people in the game expect the Red Sox to be active, even post-Mead.What Breslow does in the next four days could well define his tenure in Boston. The proper trade(s) could further lift the Red Sox playoff chances and position them for a deep October run.Anything less, however, will further cement the notion that Breslow never did enough to give his teams an improved chance by his actions at the deadline.Every successful front office executive in Boston has succeeded at crunch time. Theo Epstein had his missteps (Eric Gagne, anyone?), but he also landed Orlando Cabrera, Dave Roberts and Doug Mientkiewicz in one fell swoop in 2004, and without them, the Red Sox dont win the World Series that fall.Now its Breslows turn to prove that his smart acquisitions arent limited only to the offseason.More Red Sox coverageRed Sox win included interrupted HR celebration, Spider-Man analogy, unsung huge contributorFrom Jason Varitek to Nate Eovaldi: The Red Sox All-Trade Deadline TeamWhat Red Sox Jarren Duran, Willson Contreras said about gesturing-yelling incident; Nothing personalRed Sox reactions: Willson Contreras, Wilyer Abreu turn 8th-inning deficit into comeback winRed Sox injuries: Roman Anthony begins swinging (and team gives update on trade addition)Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here.