Who are the 10 most important people in the organization?

The Red Sox have had five managers over the last 11 seasons, and four people have run baseball operations under different titles.

There were 44 players who played at least one game for the 2018 championship team. Only eight remain in the organization — nine if you count Jackie Bradley Jr., who left as a free agent and was reacquired via trade.

Alex Cora had nine coaches on his staff in 2019. Only Carlos Febles and Ramón Vázquez remain. There have been eight pitching coaches in the last 12 seasons.

The one constant for the Red Sox has been change.

With that in mind, here’s a look at the 10 most important people in the organization — with a focus on the baseball side of the business:

1. Chaim Bloom: The Red Sox were ahead of schedule last season, winning 92 games and coming within two victories of the World Series. Meanwhile, the farm system has made considerable strides in the last two years, particularly in broadening the base of talent. That’s a credit to Bloom exploring all avenues to find players.

Bloom was hired to put the Sox in position to win every season, as opposed to the feast-or-famine roller coaster they were on. He has them moving in that direction despite numerous unexpected obstacles.

2. Alex Cora: Is there a better fit for manager and market than Cora and Boston? He communicates well with the players, the front office and the media. More than anything, Cora understands the manager’s position as the daily spokesman for the organization and how important that is in setting the tone around the team. He’s deft at controlling the message while maintaining his authenticity.

3. John Henry and Tom Werner: Obviously ownership is crucial to the success of any team in any sport. Henry — also owner of Boston Globe Media Partners — and Werner are the common denominator to the Sox having more championships this century than any other organization.

But the owners have stepped far out of the public spotlight the last few years and left it to team president Sam Kennedy to be the front man for the organization. Don’t take that for lack of interest. After 20 years, they’ve just left the day-today drama to others.

As Fenway Sports Group gains more value, the Sox are positioned well for the future.

4. Rafael Devers: At 25, Devers could be the team’s best hitter over the next decade. Or he could go the route of Mookie Betts, traded for prospects in lieu of a contract extension. The lingering question with Devers is still where he fits best defensively. Since 2018, he grades out as the worst third baseman in the majors based on defensive runs saved.

5. Xander Bogaerts: After nine highly productive years in Boston, Bogaerts has the right to opt out of his contract after the coming season. He’d leave $60 million on the table, but could easily get twice that as a free agent if he remains at the same level he was last season. Will the Sox step up make Bogaerts a deal to stay?

Bogaerts, 29, has been on the injured list once in his career, has an .847 OPS the last six seasons, and is one of the most respected players in the game.

6. Garrett Whitlock: Stealing him from the Yankees in the Rule 5 Draft proved to be a genius move. Now the Sox will determine if Whitlock remains in the bullpen or takes his four-pitch mix and unerring poise into the rotation. At some point, it’s a waste of his talent to stay in the bullpen. At 25, the right-hander is a huge piece of the future after appearing in 46 games as a rookie and posting a 1.96 ERA.

7. Chris Sale: He has three years and $85 million remaining on his contract, so the left-hander certainly is important. Sale was 5-1 with a 3.16 ERA over nine starts in the 2021 regular season but was shaky in the postseason, allowing eight earned runs over only nine innings in three starts. Sale should be sharper in his second year back from Tommy John surgery. That’s usually how it works. The Sox are counting on it.

8. Sam Kennedy: The team president and CEO has had his hands full the last 2 ½ years. The Sox fired Dave Dombrowski, “parted ways” with Cora, tanked the 2020 season, rehired Cora, saw Fenway Park become a vaccination center, dealt with a teamwide COVID-19 outbreak, and then made the playoffs on the final day of last season. Kennedy has ably handled the ruckus. He is invaluable.

9. Jason Varitek: He’s been a valuable addition to the coaching staff, working with the pitchers and catchers on game-planning and serving as part of Cora’s in-game brain trust. Varitek’s goal is to be a manager. Whether that’s in Boston remains to be seen. Building his communication skills with the media will help him get a team of his own, and he’s taking those steps.

10. Triston Casas: The 22-yearold first baseman is expected to open the season in Triple A. He had a strong 2021 season, helping Team USA to an Olympic silver medal in Japan and hitting .279 with an .877 OPS in 86 minor league games. Casas has been carefully developing his swing and plate approach. The true test is always major league pitching, but he has the potential to hit for average with a lot of power.