Boston Red Sox Hire John Farrell As New Manager

21 Oct, 2012

A year after first trying to pry him away and a little more than a week after beginning their managerial search, the Red Sox have struck a deal with the Toronto Blue Jays that will bring John Farrell back to succeeed Bobby Valentine as the Red Sox manager.

Farrell, 50, spent four seasons as the Red Sox pitching coach before being lured away to manage the Blue Jays in 2011. He finished with a 154-170 record, but was saddled with many keey injuries in 2012. The Red Sox see him as a baseman man with strong organizational and communication skills, and certainly one who can work with thei pitching staff.

The Sox have reportedly agreed to send shortstop Mike Aviles to the Blue Jays as compensation, perhaps opening the door for Jose Iglesias to become the full-time shortstop in 2013.

The hiring comes just a few days before the start of the World Series (Wednesday) and allows Farrell to begin working on a coaching staff that likely will look completely different than last season. Tim Bogar, Valentine’s bench coach, could remain in place, but hitting coach Dave Magadan left for the Rangers Friday.

The quick decision also allows Red Sox GM Ben Cherington to begin filling out a roster that needs an infusion of new talent.

Farrell joined Terry Francona’s staff in 2007 after having worked in the Cleveland organization. He became a firm, guiding hand for a Sox pitching staff that went on to win the World Series, but he became a sought-after managerial candidate because of his overall knowldge of the game.

The Red Sox had interviewed Dodgers third base coach Tim Wallach, Yankees bench coach Tony Pena, Padres administrative assistant Brad Ausmus and Orioles third base coach DeMarlo Hale in short time, but Farrell had been the top target. Farrell was accused by veteran infielder Omar Vizquel late in the 2012 season of not relating to younger players on the staff, but that wasn’t a factor in the Jays letting him go. It is unusual, though, that they would allow him to go to a division opponent.

Cherington had hoped to lure Farrell away a year ago, but Farrell had only been in place in Toronto for a year. Cherington turned his attention elsewhwere until CEO Larry Lucchino “suggested” he interview Valentine, who was hired on the last day of November, puttting the organization in a competitive hole. This early hiring gives the Sox a more palatable role model and allows the team to quickly move on with its business.
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