John Farrell has a job and the Red Sox have a manager, but rumors about Boston’s interest in Farrell persist as the Blue Jays prepare for a series at Fenway Park. MLB sources indicated to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe that Farrell will be the top choice to replace Bobby Valentine in 2013. Furthermore, people who know Farrell say he’d welcome the opportunity to return to Boston, according to Cafardo. However, Farrell maintains that his focus remains in Toronto.
“My focus and my commitment has been and is here, unequivocally," he told reporters this week.
Farrell, who is under contract for 2013, was Boston’s pitching coach before being hired by the Blue Jays. The Red Sox attempted to acquire him from Toronto twice last year, according to Cafardo. Though the Blue Jays were willing to listen, the sides didn’t agree on compensation. The Red Sox eventually hired Valentine, who’s also under contract for 2013. However, there’s a widespread expectation that Valentine won’t return to Boston next year.
The Red Sox probably wouldn’t want to part with recently-acquired pitching prospect Rubby De La Rosa, but the Blue Jays would love to add someone like him to their organization, Cafardo writes.
Watch Farrell manage his lineup and bullpen for an extended period and he wouldn’t be anyone’s first choice. As a Jays fan I’d have no problem with him leaving.
I’d be ticked if we gave up anything of great value for him. The Sox should promote Beyeler or Bogar.
Not Bogar. NEVER Bogar.
SANDBERG! gammons has come around on him even. Keith Law thinks he’s the next name to manage in the Major Leagues even, and Law hates everybody.
Couldn’t agree with you more. I would be quite happy to let Farrell go for a somewhat descent prospect.
….have they watched Farrell manage a game before?
The Blue Jays are going to demand such an exorbitant, prohibitive price that this just isn’t going to happen. Boston scribes & Front Office really need to get over this obsession. The Jays have Farrell under contract & the optics of letting Farrell go to the hated Red Sox would be sooo unbelievably bad that Rogers Communications will not allow it (imagine telling fans they they let the manager go for some middling prospect). This isn’t happening. Boston can desire the guy all they want but they won’t get him.
The Blue Jays only have him under contract through 2013. Presumably, the Jays and Farrell will sit down soon after the season ends to discuss an extension. If Farrell conveys to the team that he is not interested in signing an extension beyond 2013, then the Jays would very likely be motivated sellers this offseason as otherwise they would have a lame duck manager on their hands for all of next season. They would have to replace him at the end of 2013 anyways, so they might as well get something for him while they can and start the process of finding a new manager sooner rather than later… Really, whether Farrell is traded or not to the Red Sox will be determined by what message Farrell sends to the Blue Jays during their off-season meeting.
Yes that is true that his availability of him will most likely depend if he wants an extension or not. And if a team was willing to pay a high price even tho he wanted one they would move him. But I dont think any one will.
I dont want the Sox to give up anything of value for him even tho I want him. We can get some one whos a great manager for nothing.
Even if he went back to Boston… which I doubt… Toronto would have coaches like Butterfield trying to take the spot now since he came close to beating Farrell for the job as manager of the Jays. I don’t know though…. lol
If the Sox–in the middle of what they hope is an accelerated rebuilding–give up an arm like De La Rosa for a MANAGER… well, that would be yeah… I have no way to get that past the filter and still convey what I mean.
this is what happens when boston sports writers don’t have any actual baseball to write about
it’s also what happens when they do have actual baseball to write about. but especially when they don’t
It all depends on Ferrell himself.
If he communicates to the Blue Jays he wants to go back to Boston (which has been reported by “sources”) they’ll make a deal. Otherwise they’re just hurting themselves and IMO AA is smart enough to see that.
Farrell was a great pitching coach, but at the same time, Manny was a great hitter, Schilling was a great pitcher, and Varitek was a great catcher – but those days are over. Move forward and provide new leadership to create a new culture. Don’t live in the past or try to turn the clock back.
Take Farrell and promote Brian Butterfield!
Promote Sal “the mustache” Fasano
The Sox take Butterfield and you keep Farrell.
If Cherrington ever traded Rubby DLR for Farrell–BenC should be fired instantly. He was the most Maj. League ready of the players they got for AGon.
The crazy thing is they will hold out for a Sox prospect–had the Sox not made their feelings known through the press he probably would have been fired by Toronto the day the season ended and they would promote Butterfield. Thanks Boston media, once again, for letting the cat out of the bag and costing us a prospect.
Absolutley agreed!
A prospect come on give your head a shake ! It’s gotta be a MLB starting pitcher or impact bat with years of control not some kid who may not even make it to the show …
This is sarcasm right? please?
No it’s not sarcasm ! Why would the jays give up something the sox want so bad as to try three times now to acquire him for nothing but a middling prospect that wouldn’t make our top 20 prospects list ? If they don’t want to let him go then ask a very
High price and with the gong show that’s running things in Boston who knows whats could happen. Although I concede I doubt Boston gives up anything big
They already did that when they asked for Buchholz. But as long as you aren’t actually expecting that to happen…
Actually, De La Rosa is good enough to be in Blue Jays Top 10 prospects. Baseball America projected him to be a No. 2 SPer. The guy throws a 95 MPH fastball. He has even thrown as hard as 102 MPH.
Hmmm.. Finley got a washed up Manny Sanguillen for Chuck Tanner. Epstein got Chris Carpenter and Aaron Kurcz. Go ahead and shoot for the moon with a coach turned manager that has nothing in their repertoire to match either Tanner, nor Epstein and see how far that flies.
Hmmm, I think Anthopolous is shrewder than Charlie O. My take on the situation is AA has informed Red Sox they can have Farrell if they make Toronto an offer it can’t refuse. I doubt AA has any interest in being fair to Boston.
Pretty tall order for Anthopolous when Finley built 3 WS Champion teams and the dynasty A’s of the early-mid 70’s. AA needs to get busy getting to the top 1-2 of the Al East 1st.
I presume you never spoke with anyone who worked for Charlie O. I have (on the hockey side) and the stories were not flattering.
Never the less, I doubt AA settles for a “Manny Sanguillen” deal. I am sticking to my guns on asserting he has a “make me an offer I can’t refuse” mind set.
You don’t give up actual players or prospects for a manager, come on…
If the Jays will take Chris Carpenter (compensation for Theo, we remember), then fine. Otherwise, get someone for the interim and go after Farrel in 2014. Sheesh.
I doubt very much that the jays will go in to 2013 with a manager on a 1 year deal.
he’ll get an extension, so theres no point in planning for 2014
Why is this Farrell dude so hot in Boston? Weren’t the Blue Jays supposed to be contenders this year?
If you are getting paid millions and quit on a manager, the problem is with a player not the coach.
Francona too loose? Valentine too harsh? Nope!!!
Players just chumps? Yep!
Much respect to the players who didn’t show up to that meeting. That whole ordeal was a coward move.
the idea is that farrel wasn’t just liked by the players (as francona was), but also respected and – to some degree – feared. i don’t know whether that’s true or meaningful or even important, but that’s the idea
Fair enough. So it sounds like they are expecting him to be the perfect blend of Francona and Valentine.
Farrel isn’t worth all this hype but jays in contention this year made sense before we lost lawrie bautista 3 starters in a week and our closer before season started and another late reliever (perez). Jays playing with a triple A roster
I can roll with Bautista and Lowrie, but I really don’t think a closer is going to make or break a teams chances at the playoffs. Isn’t that the most over-rated position in baseball? (Serious question)
True outside of five or six guys its an over rated position. Having one injured though even if we replace him means one less first team option plus 3 starting pitcher go down in a week and two need tommy john. Farrell has been ok. I don’t think any manager in baseball would make huge difference. I don’t see the red sox any better off with him
lawrie
Especially since the closer the Jays use right now is better then their wildest dreams. Janssen is one of those silver lining players for the this year.
But the starter injuries were Bautista, Lawrie, Morrow, Perez, Santos, Arencibia, Lind, Frasor, Drabek, Hutchison, Litsch, and then a replacement, Cooper (who was hitting) was also injured. It’s no small amount of players. I’m probably forgetting someone too.
The true talent of the team is a mystery.
Rasmus has been playing through a groin problem for at least 4 weeks now too, and it’s kinda noticeable.
Closers I don’t think are overrated by the MLBTR community. They are an important pitcher, but the saves stat is completely useless to judge a reliever by.
well, you wouldn’t be a contender if about 4 of your Opening Day Pitchers needs either TJ or Shoulder surgery
If I’m the Jays I treat the Sawks like they treated the Cubs in the Theo negotiations. Start out by asking for some combination Ellsbury, Middlebrooks & Bogaerts. Ridiculous.
I dont see why teams cant just sign a free agent manager, there is no point in giving up players for managers. Look at Robin Ventura, hes doing a great job and the White Sox gave up no players for him.
Wait until 2014 for Farrell if they have their heart set on him and bring in an interim for 2013, as has been suggested here. Since it’s for one year, go get Tommy LaSorda or Tony LaRussa. They have the money now, the team ain’t doing anything next year anyways, so no loss. Be entertaining, too.
Lasorda..that’s funny. Pretty sure he’d rather die first than manage in Canada.
If you are a Dodger fan, you would know that Lasorda has immense respect for baseball in Canada, being it is where Jackie Robinson broke into the previously segregated organized professional leagues of baseball. A relatively significant moment in the game, don’t you think?
I know….bad joke.
Maybe you should learn to read a little better…he’s talking about Boston but your comment about “rather die first than manage” in Boston would be applicable there as well.
Either LaRussa or Lasorda would want a chance at winning, which is not going to happen for a while in Boston.
They ARE winners, but LaRussa would only need 36 wins to pass McGraw, and even the 2013 Sox can go 36-126. No pressure on him, either. The Fenway fans would love him and they probably aren’t expecting much next year.
If he doesn’t wanna be here go, he started something with Jays but if he doesn’t think he can finish it I rather him go there. Besides Fasano can come in and take over he is great at developing young arms
Being an ORIOLES fan all I can say is I’m so glad VALENTINE turned down the O’s when he was approached about managing in BALTIMORE!
As a Yankee Fan Even I can be Happy for Baltimore , They did not Deserve a Mgr like Broadway B. V. We The yankees will eventually get our act back Together
and in the meantime IMHO its’ good for Baseball the Os Nats many teams that have not Been to the Dance in a long time or EVER to have there Turns
I feel all the DEPRESSION all of us feel when our Team is “Not Doing WELL”
lol but I LOVE BASEBALL and have Been to Many DANCES w/ the Yanks, and have a lifetime of the “SPECIAL FEELING” when your Team wins the WS
Wining a W.S. is such a Special FEELING it needs to be SHARED Until my Team Rebuilds I will enjoy watching Great 2012 Baseball and the Young hungry Talented Teams
Good Luck I will be expecting the Yanks to be back in the Hunt by 2015
Go Yanks
Farrell was the right move back when he was the obvious heir to Francona and would, in theory, keep the positive clubhouse culture/organizational strategy we thought they had going after Francona retired/moved on. The right move would have been to convince him to stay on, Dave Duncan-like, as the crown prince for as long as it took. I know some will say “but he’s being offered his own team, how can you keep him from that?”… but the answer, as always, is “you throw a LOT of money at him”. Everyone has their price.
But instead, Lucchino et al. hung Francona out to dry by not extending him, and let the heir apparent walk to Toronto. Now they apparently want to come crawling back to him and beg Toronto to free him up to take the job he should have been promised three years ago. (Which, apparently, he actually wants — I can’t believe a smart guy like him would walk willingly into this poopstorm, but there you go.) But while Farrell was great at managing the pitchers in a clubhouse with a good tone set by Francona, we don’t know how he’ll be managing the full team in a caustic clubhouse left in ruin by the Valentine era. He might be a good choice, but he’s no sure thing.
TL;DR summary: If you fire Paul Simon, hiring Art Garfunkel probably isn’t going to bring back the sound of silence.
I would love to have him but wont give up anything of significant value for him. No way, id be wicked mad. There is anuff good coaches capable of becoming our manager who wont cost a thing.
Let him go . The Jays should get Thomson like they should have 2 years ago.
The Jays need position players and starting pitchers so either Pedroia and prospect or Buckholtz and prospect and Boston can have Farrell, then Toronto will need to sign Francona to a 2 or 3 year contract
Bill Mueller should be the next manager of the boston red sox
Unsure why there is not more heat for Brad Mills. A Francona guy, former bench coach. I’d like to see how he would do with actual baseball talent.
As a Blue Jays fan – if Farrell wants to go, let him go and demand some decent compensation in return. Then, go out and offer Francona big money to manage the Jays.
Seriously. Farrell. seems like a well spoken, intelligent, likable guy. And I have no idea what goes on in the clubhouse. But from what I’ve seen of his in game decisions, I wouldn’t lose sleep if he left.
Francona would be amazing to watch manage Lawrie and Bautista.
That way, Francona could go fight the bad calls and Lawrie and Bautista don’t have to throw stuff across the field
Look Farrell is just blowing smoke, if he didnt want the Red Sox job he could come out and say “I dont want to get involved in that mess, I like it here”. Done. Personally I think Valentine will be back next year, if only to allow Farrell to join once his tenure is done.
Trading for a manager sounds so dumb. Can’t they just get someone decent? Also, might as well just admit that the Francona firing was a bad idea if you’re going back to Ferrell.
Sox don’t want him that bad. If De La Rosa turns into what he should that would be a severe overpay.
Giving up a player for a manager is absurd. Farrell is nothing special anyway.
Can they resurrect Pinky Higgins?
Need to hire fisk to manage and have the eck as the pitching coach lol
So simple hire Terry Francona
My prediction: Farrell will be back as the Jays’ manager BECAUSE the Red Sox want him. The Jays will again ask a silly price for a guy them don’t really want and the Sox will again turn them down and look elsewhere.
Just hire Francona
The Red Sox ownership i looking to go forward not backward.
If Farrell goes back to Boston it will be as a pitching coach, not as a manager.