The Red Sox didn’t go by MLB’s minority hiring rules when they interviewed only Dave Dombrowski for the president of baseball ops role but they have been instructed to do so for the GM job, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe writes. If the Red Sox take the step of hiring a minority GM candidate, Cafardo suggests that Ken Williams would be a strong choice if he chooses to leave Chicago. Here’s more from today’s column..
- The Rangers were very interested in acquiring Austin Jackson “a few days ago,” but nothing came of those talks, Cafardo writes. Jackson, 28, cleared waivers last week and was said to be generating interest, though it appears that no one wanted to take the remaining ~$1.7MM salary off the Mariners’ hands.
- Former Red Sox GM Ben Cherington is in play for the Brewers job, a major league source tells Cafardo. “Despite his last-place finishes he’s seen as a team builder, especially when it comes to farm systems,” said the source. The Angels, Mariners, and Phillies are also thought to be possibilities for Cherington.
- The Yankees have been blocked in every attempt to add to their pitching, both out of the bullpen and in the starting rotation. Baseball sources tell Cafardo that GM Brian Cashman doesn’t seem optimistic about his odds of pulling anything off. The Mets have been blocked from adding a reliever as well.
- The Royals want a backup catcher for the playoffs just in case something happens to Salvador Perez. KC turned down the opportunity to land A.J. Pierzynski from the Braves, Cafardo writes, but they’re still looking for an affordable left-handed hitting backstop. Some KC scouts like the Red Sox’s Ryan Hanigan, but he hits right-handed and has a $3.7MM salary next year with an option for 2017.
- Unsurprisingly, Cafardo hears that the Rangers are looking for offense, the Twins are looking for relief help, and the Blue Jays want to add to their bullpen. However, a deal for Toronto doesn’t seem likely at this time.
- Cafardo writes that the Nationals, Padres, Red Sox, Mariners, Reds, Orioles, Indians, and Tigers are expected to be quite active this winter.
The Red Sox didn’t go by MLB’s minority hiring rules when they interviewed only Dave Dombrowski for the president of baseball ops role but they have been instructed to do so for the GM job…..Cafardo suggests that Ken Williams would be a strong choice if he chooses to leave Chicago.
Well instead of ‘stealing’ someone that already had a job, why don’t the Red Sox interview Ruben Amaro for the job since he might not have one after this season.
If it does happen I would love to see the reaction of the Red Sox types if it does.
This rule is silly. The Rooney rule in football is silly. The job should go to whomever is most qualified and is the best fit for the team. It drives me nuts to have a rule forced onto you like this.
The rule doesn’t say you have to hire a minority candidate, only that you have to interview one. One can hope that rules like these will fade in the years to come, but there’s a reason we have them in the first place.
I understand the need to promote minorities..kind of…because I also feel at this point in the game that we’re dealing with such a performance driven baseball ops world that sheer ability is trumping that good old boy system….but to me this mandate in interviewing also puts minorities in a situation to have their time wasted as pawns. Hiring Dave Dombrowski does not indicate a racial/gender preference on its own.. He’s extremely well qualified. I just don’t see the point in flying Kim Ng in just to fulfill that.
MLB isn’t forcing the Red Sox to hire anyone. That would be an outrage. But mandating that the interviewing process be opened to people who aren’t the traditional standbys gives some qualified candidates chances to make an impression when they might not get a shot otherwise. Is that really so oppressive? Must the boys club of front office jobs remain white and male forever, since they’re the established network and people like to hire their own?
Must the boys club of front office jobs remain white and male forever
Oh gimme a break! Although, I do admit I translated the rule incorrectly a bit. The thing is it worked out nicely for the Tigers because they had Al Avila sitting there after DD was forced out or whatever happened in Tiger land. This mandating of whom you have to interview is for the Birds. If there was someone specific that got hosed and they were well qualified and they didn’t get the job because some outrageous reason, I would be waving my arms too. However, where and when has that really happened? I think the rule is there just to look stylish and that’s about it.
No, the rule is there to give minorities a chance to get their foot in the door/get their name out there. It is a really good thing for all sports. It’s unfortunate that it takes a rule like this for some to get the recognition around baseball that they deserve, but that is where we stand now. We are moving in the right direction, however.
I’m more interested in where minority hires are within the lesser front office roles that traditionally lead to GM track. That’s where the process begins. But realistically, if baseball hirea former players on the baseball ops side…we’ll see fewer African Americans and more Latinos down the road
You seem to think that “merit” is everything. I would submit that when generations of one race get a disproportionate amount of educational and employment opportunities (and continue to do so) because they’re seen as the norm and the standard, then “merit” really isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and that it means “opportunity” as much as anything. Open your eyes, certain segments of the population have benefited from centuries of being on top and continue to do so. Or would you characterize the benefits of slave-owning and Jim Crow and other discriminations — effects of which last to this day — simply “merit”?
I appreciate your passion…but I do find the reference to Chief Wahoo in your handle a bit ironic
Not crazy about the Chief myself, but it’s from the movie “Major League,” with Harry Doyle as my avatar.
Most teams interview at least four candidates for managerial/gm openings. A rule mandating that one of these people must be a minority is hardly impeding anyone’s process. It’s a good rule.
Why would Cafardo think Ken Williams would leave his job as president with the White Sox, to be GM of the Red Sox?
Because it is Cafardo, who tends to not think logically.
Got to wonder how stupid the Royals were not to grab up Pierzynski.
think the royals maybe could grab brayan pena? does great with pitchers and does great with cueto
There is value for a minority candidate in simply getting an interview because some candidates have to “be in the interview rotation” to even be considered.
Look at how easily Ben got the job, v. Avila, a minority who has a successful track record for 30+ years (getting everyone from Cabrera the first time to JD Martinez), but just now got the job.
Also, why does front office leadership have to be 100% MALE? Why cant a female run a Baseball team effectively?
I think that’s the real problem: So many of these organizations have basically made their minds up already before they even start searching. The biggest value to a rule requiring minorities be interviewed is that it forces there to be a legitimate interview process at all, and maybe puts some doubt in the organization’s mind whether or not their first choice was their best option. Not only does that make the minority more likely to be hired, it makes every single option more likely to be hired.
Problem is, as we see here, it’s basically not enforced. Oh, you completely ignored our minority hiring rule? Don’t do that next time.