Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski’s decision to dismiss manager John Farrell earlier today wasn’t entirely unexpected, though like any managerial firing, it’ll lead to a wide swath of questions in the coming weeks as Boston seeks to hire a new skipper. As Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe writes, Dombrowski said Wednesday that his priority will be to hire a replacement that has previous experience as a manager or a Major League coach.
“Being in a dugout during a game and seeing what the manager encounters is probably helpful,” Dombrowski told reporters. “I do think it would be difficult for a person more so [in Boston] than in some other places to walk directly onto the field without some on-field managerial experience at some level or big league coaching.”
That, as Abraham points out, likely crosses off fan-favorite suggestion Jason Varitek — the former Red Sox catcher who has been working as a special assistant to Dombrowski in the team’s front office. Varitek has been an oft-speculated managerial candidate in past years, but he’s yet to get his feet wet as a coach in either the Majors or the minors.
Names of potential candidates should emerge over the next week or two, though Abraham and a few other reporters have made some initial suggestions. Abraham lists bench coaches Alex Cora (Astros) and Ron Gardenhire (D-backs) as well as recently dismissed Tigers skipper Brad Ausmus as possibilities. Gardenhire, of course, spent more than a decade managing the Twins while Dombrowski was GM over the AL Central rival Tigers, and it was Dombrowski who originally hired Ausmus as the skipper in Detroit. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale has also suggested that Gardenhire could emerge as a candidate, while ESPN’s Buster Olney tweeted that Cora could get strong consideration as well. Meanwhile, CSN New England’s Evan Drellich tweets that Giants hitting coach Hensley Meulens could get consideration as well.
Chad Jennings of the Boston Herald also lists Indians first base coach Sandy Alomar Jr. and Dodgers bench coach Bob Geren as names to watch. Current bench coach Gary DiSarcina may seem a natural candidate, though he notes that Farrell suggested that an in-house option may not be in consideration. “At this point, successor from the staff, I don’t really know,” said Dombrowski. “…I’d say most likely not, but I’m not going to say for sure not.”
As to the reasons that Farrell was ultimately dismissed, Abraham details a number of instances of Farrell’s communication with his players deteriorating. Abraham reports that Dombrowski and Farrell strongly disagreed with how the team handled Manny Machado’s controversial slide into Dustin Pedroia earlier this year. Farrell’s claims that he was in the dark during the ridiculous Apple Watch scandal also reflected poorly on him, and the drama between David Price and commentator Dennis Eckersley also suggested further lack of communication between Farrell and the clubhouse, Abraham writes.
If there’s any bad blood between Farrell and the organization, he certainly didn’t air his grievances to the public. In a statement released via the Red Sox communications department, Farrell spoke warmly and gratefully about his time in Boston:
Despite an end to this season that we all wanted to be different, I am proud of this ball club and the resiliency shown. I have enjoyed every moment of this job – its peaks and its valleys. There are few, if any, positions in life that create so much passion on a daily basis.
I am grateful to an ownership group that gave me such a unique opportunity, and one that shared my desire to bring World Series championships to this great city. They supported me through a challenging and scary period in my own life, and I remain forever indebted.
I am grateful to two front office groups that worked tirelessly to provide me with the players that could consistently match up with the very best in the game. Their time and resources made my job so much easier and fulfilling.
I am thankful for fellow coaches who are far more than that – they are close friends. They have provided the necessary direction, guidance, and humor that have made the daily activities of a long season all that much more enjoyable.
I am especially grateful for five years of great players – and people. This game has always been built around and for the players, and I have tried to respect that for five years in Boston. I have witnessed Hall of Famers, memorable Fenway wins, and countless private moments that will always be with me. Those relationships will remain cherished for years.
The legions of fans who support this franchise keep their manager on his toes day in and day out. There are no days off when managing this proud franchise. I would not have wanted it any other way.
Again, I thank John Henry, Tom Werner, Michael Gordon, and the ownership team for their faith in me and wish them nothing but the best moving forward.
Beyond the managerial change, it seems likely that the Sox will be in for several coaching changes as well. Drellich writes that the team’s coaching staff has been informed that they can pursue opportunities outside the organization — an indication that whoever is tabbed as the next skipper will be able to bring on his own coaching staff.
Ron Gardenhire brings the stability and credibility this job requires.
I think if Gardenhire wants it, it’s his job. The only other option i see being considered is Ausmus
Too old for young core. Time has past. Need a younger voice in clubhouse
Gardy’s greatest success has always come with young and unproven players.
Past. Different game now. Younger players respond to more their own now, those that have spent time in game and younger personality
Yeah! One who played JV baseball and has a iPad!
Hire Ron Gardenhire – great fit.
Alex Cora – Vizquel or Many Acta!!please not Ausmus!!! Go Sox Go
Cora would be a good fit. Acta’s terrible.
Terry Collins. As a former Met manager he follows on the foot steps of Bobby Valentine and can take the Sox on a couple of seasons where they experience some new lows. The franchise has good experience in the past decade finishing in the basement.
Why not Ron Washington?
God this is sad. Guy wins two straight divisions and has a ship and they fire him…not to mention what they did to Tito. Who would really want that job?
Yep, they should have fired Dombo, he never replaced Popi
Did you just say Popi?
Having a winning record does t make a manager good. There’s a reason both media and fans were questioning if he would be back. They didn’t come out of nowhere and just fire him. He is genuinely bad at managing in-game
Agreed, JD. Farrell was in over his head in both Toronto and Boston. It always struck me that Farrell was unprepared, as if he wasn’t managing a few outs ahead of the game.
Outplayed the Sox’s Vegas over/under by half a game but underperformed the team’s Pythagorean W/L by 1 game. So I guess he would be “average.”
John Farrell had no in-game management. It’s actually gotten worse as time has gone by.
Alex Cora I think is a very strong candidate. And he is familiar with the Sox organization.
Cora is the guy. No doubt.
He’s also popular with other teams looking as well. Not a sure thing
To be fair.. He was working mainly with the Sox early in his early years after retiring and working especially with Christian Vazquez in the PR winter league and several other sox players that went to that league, report straight to Sox brass as well on how they were doing.
Few years back and no idea why he never too any official job within the Sox system as a coach/manager. When he played for them it was known he wanted to manage/coach when he retired.
If he is half as smart as people think, he will say NO THANK YOU. This franchise has so many problems with crazy ownership, a front office looking backwards at good old boy players, a team with REAL holes and mismatched pieces along with fans and press that could make him miserable with one short losing streak.
Mike take it easy on the trolling man. Your material is getting old. At least be clever and accurate.
I agree
DeMarlo Hale should also get some recognition. He’s got a Sox connection too!
Manager = Cora
Bench Coach = Hale
Third Base Coach = Merloni
First Base Coach = Butter
Hahaha Merloni? the same guy that said on the radio yesterday that Betts has no trade value but Hanley does? The guys a clown
I hope after the racism exhibited to Adam Jones this season that Boston does the right thing and increases minority representation in the managerial ranks. MLB encourages following this edict as well, so I hope it’s Ron Washington, Lloyd McClendon, or somebody of a similar background.
I don’t care if he’s green, purple, or blue, I just want the best candidate for the job.
Agreed.
Supposedly at some point when he was a manager the great John McGraw said something similar about his team. He didn’t care the color of the player as long as they could hit.
I agree. Am fed up with all this PC correct nonsense going on in this country the last decade or so and it seems to be getting nothing but worse.
The great Tommy Harper had a difficult time among some Boston fans a few difficult fans a few decades back and stayed on as a coach for maybe 20 years. All areas have racism among the fan base, it’s going to unfortunately happen when there is ignorance, Boston just has leech media personalities like Thomase and Shaghnessy as examples that will make up stories when nothing exists.
It should be the best candidate for the job, period.
My vote is for Jason Veritak.
No managerial or MLb coaching which DD said is a requirement
Jason Varitek is not ready!!! Meabe the next one(3-4 year from now)
Trust me, you don’t want Lloyd. And I hope you know that people like you that make these issues way worst, and bigger than they need to be.
I’m pretty sure this guy’s a troll
Adam Jones shooting off his mouth shouldn’t determine who becomes Boston’s manager.
Choose the best candidate. Enough with social engineering. A few idiots in the bleachers don’t define an entire city.
The Yawkeys weren’t in the bleachers. They ran the show.
Bench Coach Larry Bowa of the Phillies – he’s fiery, experienced, just what the Sox need to make a run @ the Yankees next year!
Think his ship has sailed
estupido
Not Dicarcina!!! He was a lousy third base coach for L.A.
I would love to see Ron Washington
Hey Sox fans, Terry Collins is available!
Bartolo?
Bring in Ozzie G.
Tim Tebow for Manager!
Is it too late to bring back Torey Lovullo.
Yes it is too late to bring up anyone respectable.
Cora!! Before Détroit get him!!
The had the best guy but they ef ed that up last offseason well DD does love to trade all are prospects so maybe he’ll give up someone for Torey
Willie Randolph won 83, 97, and 88 games as Mets manager and has been looking for another shot,God knows he knows how to win. Not as ridiculous as it sounds.
Willie has already worked for one team with incompetent ownership. He’s smart enough to avoid a second. Beware of John Henry and Co. as they are amateurs
Farrell: Exceptional pitching coach, mediocre manager.
No so fast on Ferrell, guy has a WS title and two division champs under his belt with a poor pitching staff one year and very poor middle of the batting order the next… give him his due, I tip my cap and say thank you even thou I didn’t agree with every move. Let’s face it, it’s very easy to second guess and complain. DD needs to take some heat also, middle of the order just sucked this year and that’s being nice. Fix this mess and fix it fast !
Hey Bad–if just a few more guys would have worn Apple watches during the astros series Rhonda would have turned out differently.
Should’ve just fired him last year. Getting swept by Cleveland last year is way worse than losing 3-1 to Houston this year without big papi. By doing it last year you could’ve hired torey lovullo. Thought he would’ve been a good fit. More so now after seeing what he did with the d-backs this year. Hope Dave dumbo hires a dud now.
Just funny how things play out.
Go Yankees btw!
I would hate to lose Alex Cora but he would/will be a great manager. If not this year it will be next.
im hoping for brad ausmus
I know he doesn’t have any experience but it’s time to give Jason varitek a chance. Lou merloni talks all this crap on weei and should be the bench coach. I’m tired of hearing he has no experience just give the captain a chance.