4:16pm: Francona has already had preliminary contact with the Indians, sources tell Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. However, Rosenthal writes that the Tribe may not be able to pay the former Red Sox skipper enough to make him walk from his job as an analyst for ESPN. Francona earned an average annual salary of $4MM in his final contract with Boston.
3:22pm: Indians interim manager Sandy Alomar Jr. is the favorite to obtain the permanent managerial position, according to multiple reports. Alomar is the “heavy favorite” to obtain the permanent job, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter). Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer calls Alomar the "leading candidate" and notes that former Red Sox manager Terry Francona is another possibility for the position, which opened up this afternoon when the Indians dismissed Manny Acta (Twitter link).
Francona told Heyman he loves working for ESPN, but would “have to think about it” if the right opportunity emerged. However, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe suggests Francona would want to go somewhere he could win right away (Twitter link). Before managing in Boston, Francona spent the 2001 season in Cleveland’s front office.
Meanwhile, general manager Chris Antonetti still has the support of team president Mark Shapiro and CEO Paul Dolan, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports (Twitter link).
Seeing as Acta was Antonelli’s choice as manager, i wonder how much support he really has with ownership?
Enough that he still has his job. Shapiro won’t let his boy Antonetti get fired.
i wonder how many thought Shapiro would never fire Eric Wedge either?
Pretty interesting how when the Astros went manager hunting last time, Acta turned down Houston for Cleveland, and the Astros went with plan B, Brad Mills. After all that, Manny only lasted a couple more months than Mills anyway.
This does not bode well for Roger Dorn.
It has to be worrisome to be the managerial candidates that Cleveland would court if Francona’s $4 million salary is too much for them to afford. If they can’t afford $4 million, what is going to make you, as a prospective hire, feel as though they will spend the money required to put a winning product on the field?
Quite honestly, i’;d rather see the Indians invest the money in the team than a manager. i’m not sure Francona could turn the team around, and i am sure he’d want to go with a team with a better shot at winning. But if Alomar, Jr. gets the job full time i do hope they bring in a bench manager to help him out on occasion.
Reporting things from Ken Rosenthal seems rather pointless does it not? Most of the reports from him are usually just to stir up commotion.