Dombrowski tried to keep Cherington as GM; Wren reportedly among top candidates

In his new role with the Boston Red Sox, Dave Dombrowski's first order of business was admittedly an awkward one: convince the person he was replacing to work for him.

Dombrowski's Tuesday night hiring not only surprised the baseball world, it apparently shocked Ben Cherington, who will resign from his position as Red Sox general manager after assisting with the transition. Hours after being named the team's president of baseball operations, Dombrowski confirmed he tried to keep Cherington in Boston.

"We offered Ben the opportunity to stay as GM," Dombrowski told Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY Sports. "I had a lengthy conversation. He could have stayed. We like Ben. He's a good person. ... But I could understand it. It hit him very quickly. He was surprised.

"As president of baseball operations, you have control over making deals, and the final say in hiring. I understand it would be a transition with him."

Dombrowski - who was reportedly pursued by the Seattle Mariners, among others - says he'll now turn his focus to replacing Cherington, the 41-year-old executive who led Boston to a World Series title in 2013. Former Atlanta Braves general manager Frank Wren, who worked under Dombrowski in Florida, is among the top candidates for the position, according to multiple reports.

Dombrowski, 59, also confirmed to Nightengale that he interviewed with another club and spoke with a third - one of which was reportedly the Washington Nationals - following his sudden release from the Detroit Tigers' front office earlier this month.

"Things," he said, "sure changed in a hurry."