Red Sox Done Interviewing, Now Reportedly Move On To Farrell
BOSTON (CBS) - The Boston Red Sox interviewed four potential replacements for Bobby Valentine, but have now moved on to their number-one choice for their new manager.
According to The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo, the Red Sox and Blue Jays have begun talks about a deal for current Toronto manager John Farrell, who Boston has coveted for their bench the last two off seasons.
The talks have begun on an ownership level, but it's unclear if the talks have reached the teams general managers regarding potential compensation for Farrell, who has led the Blue Jays to a 154-170 record in his two seasons at the helm.
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CBS Sports' Jon Heyman is reporting the Jays, who instated a new policy last off season when Boston showed interest in Farrell that members of their coaching staff could not leave for a "lateral move," now wouldn't mind letting their manager go to their division rival, as things between Farrell and the front office have not been all that great during his two seasons on the job.
"One person, who claims the Blue Jays front office and Farrell butted heads this year, went so far as to say, 'the people there would charter a jet to get him out,'" Heyman writes.
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Last season, the Blue Jays reportedly wanted starter Clay Buchholz in compensation for Farrell. The Red Sox balked at that notion, and moved on to other candidates -- ultimately ending up with Valentine. It's yet to be determined if the Jays will come down on their compensation demands following a fourth place finish in 2012.
If things do not work out with Toronto, the Red Sox have a very good crop of options to choose from. They conducted interviews with Dodgers third base coach Tim Wallach, Yankees bench coach Tony Pena, Padres special assistant Brad Ausmus, and Orioles third base coach DeMarlo Hale over the past week, and any of their "backup plans" are worthy candidates to manage Boston for the future.
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Farrell served as the Red Sox pitching coach from 2006-2010 under former manager Terry Francona.
