Amalie Benjamin and Peter Abraham

According to ESPN.com, Red Sox senior vice president and assistant general manager Jed Hoyer is close to being named Padres GM.

Hoyer, 35, has been with the Sox since 2002. He and Ben Cherington directed baseball operations during Epstein’s 10-week hiatus following the 2005 season. Hoyer has since interviewed with the Pirates and Nationals during their GM searches.

The Padres are seeking a replacement for Kevin Towers, who was fired this month. Towers is said to have a standing offer to join Epstein’s staff.