Red Sox name Dombrowski president; Cherington stepping down as GM

A winner has been declared in the Dave Dombrowski sweepstakes.

The Boston Red Sox have hired the longtime executive as president of baseball operations effective immediately, the team announced Tuesday night.

Ben Cherington has declined the opportunity to continue as general manager of the club, but will assist Dombrowski with the transition.

Dombrowski expressed his excitement about joining the Red Sox in a statement:

I want to thank John and Tom for this opportunity. Although I did have other potential options within baseball, there was no option that stood out as clearly as the chance to come to Boston and win with the Red Sox. Boston is a baseball city like no other and its history and traditions are unique in our game. I expressed to John (Henry) and Tom (Werner) that Boston would be my absolute top choice and am honored to have the chance to serve Red Sox nation.

Dombrowski was released from his position as president of baseball operations and GM with the Detroit Tigers on Aug. 4 after 14 years with the organization. He led the franchise to five playoff appearances and two American League pennants during his reign.

"I have no doubts that Dave is the right person to strengthen our baseball operations group going forward," principal team owner John Henry said. "He is one of the most highly regarded executives in all of baseball, and had options to go with other clubs.

"We feel very fortunate that he wanted to come to Boston, and wanted to further his career - now with the Red Sox - as one of the great architects of winning baseball clubs."

Dombrowski has 27 years of experience as a baseball executive, and helped build the 1997 Florida Marlins club that claimed the franchise's first World Series title.

Cherington took over as Red Sox GM in October of 2011, and although he's largely credited with assembling the 2013 championship team, the club has struggled mightily in three of his four seasons at the helm.

The front office shake-up comes shortly after president and CEO Larry Lucchino announced he would step down at the end of the season.

A press conference has been scheduled for 2 p.m. ET on Wednesday to formally introduce Dombrowski.