Dave Dombrowski has been hired by the Boston Red Sox.

According to Yahoo, the former Detroit Tigers general manger will become the team's next president of baseball operations effective immediately. Dombrowski, who was fired by the Detroit Tigers earlier this month, will report to principal owner John Henry and chairman Tom Werner. Current Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington will step down and assist Dombrowski in the role. Early reports are saying Atlanta Braves general manager Frank Wren is a candidate to replace Cherington.

In a statement, Dombrowski thanked the Red Sox organization for the opportunity.

"I want to thank John and Tom for this opportunity," Dombrowski said.

"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 and Tom that Boston would be my absolute top choice and am honored to have the chance to serve Red Sox Nation."

Boston Red Sox principal owner John Henry commented on the Dombrowski move: "I have known Dave very well for a long time. ... Chairman Tom Werner and I have no doubts that Dave is the right person to strengthen our baseball operations group going forward. 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."

The Red Sox are currently 53-66 and are in last place in the American League East. If they continue this pace, this will be the third time in four years that they will finish last in their division. In 2013, the Red Sox won the World Series with Cherington as general manager.

Dombrowski joined the Tigers in 2002 and led them to success in recent years. He took a team that had lost a record 119 games in 2003 in the American League to a team that has won four straight American League Central Division titles. During his reign, the Tigers won the American League pennant twice in 2006 and 2011, where they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals (2006) and San Francisco Giants (2011.)