The Red Sox have announced that John Farrell will not return as manager. The team had previously exercised its 2018 club option over the skipper, but will now change course and pursue another option.
A search is set to begin immediately, per the club announcement. The Mets, Phillies, and Tigers are also looking for new managers at this point, so there will be some competition.
Farrell took over in Boston after the team’s ill-fated 2012 season. The relationship got off to quite a start, as the Sox ran up 97 wins and streaked to a World Series win in 2013.
Two-straight last-place divisional finishes followed, however, leading to the departure of then-GM Ben Cherington. His replacement at the top of the baseball ops pyramid, Dave Dombrowski, decided to retain Farrell for each of the last two seasons.
Regular-season results have followed, as the organization added significant new pieces and paced the AL East with 93 wins in both 2016 and 2017. Unfortunately, though, the postseason results have also been the same: consecutive first-round wash-outs.
Of course, there’s only so much Farrell could have done differently to stave off elimination. The Sox were swept last year by the eventual American League champion Indians. And this year, the team ran into an Astros buzzsaw, rebounding to avoid another sweep and make the fourth game competitive but ultimately falling short.
Farrell’s tenure had its ups and downs off of the field as well. He battled through lymphoma during his tenure. And Farrell also kicked up some controversy when he and his wife divorced and rumors arose of a relationship with a local reporter.
Ultimately, it seems the Boston higher-ups felt that gains could be achieved by pursuing a new direction. Plenty of names have been tossed around in the immediate aftermath of the move, though as yet no clear connections have been made. Clearly, Boston will be looking for someone that can move the team into and through the postseason, though otherwise little is known. Dombrowski is expected to meet with the media later this morning.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Good riddance!
Fohn Jarrell disagrees.
Sure I believe Trader Dave that he was going to fire Farrell even if they went father in the post season anyway. Dave and John Henry love pissing money away. These are the guys that bought David PRICE to Boston, even though he publicly said he didn’t want to play there and only would go if they were the highest bidder.
And the double play combination of his fragile contributions combined with his terrific relationship with the fans and writers makes his few hundred million, seven year? contract a bargain.
“Boston won back-to-back American League East titles for the first time in franchise history this season despite losing the bat of the retired slugger David Ortiz. It also did it despite starting the season with the $217 million pitcher David Price on the disabled list and watching as the 2016 Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello stumbled to an 11-17 record.”
“Farrell won a World Series title with the Boston Red Sox in 2013, leading the team to its eighth World Series title, his first season in charge of the club. Farrell was 432-378 over five seasons with Boston.”
Why does everyone hate him?
nytimes.com/2017/10/11/sports/baseball/john-farrel…
Because he was a douche bag mouthpiece who thought he was more important than the players! He can’t manage a pitching staff and had the top one or two line-ups in baseball and couldn’t get them over the hump!
Tigers could use him. DD will probably hire Ausmus.
I’m expecting Fredi Gonzalez in Detroit
Avila could have hired someone by now. I think he’s been waiting for someone to drop into his lap like this.
Why would the Tigers, or any team, want Farrell? He is not falling to anyone. I do not see him managing again
Tigers waiting until after the World Series so AA can interview all on his list of over 50 candidates.
Just as ERA is a useful (but sometimes misleading) stat, wins/losses are for managers. And like it or not, GM’s will see Farrell’s 3 division titles and World Series Championship with the Sox and see a manager with a good track records, and most of all– experience (a team like the Mariners, who haven’t won a title in 16 years, could use someone with that experience).
By way of example, Don Mattingly had one of the biggest payroll teams with some of the best players and never even made it to a World Series, was fired, and immediately landed a job with the Marlins. A team like the Dodgers or Red Sox have higher expectations.
I think there’s a better than average chance Farrell lands a managerial role with another team, assuming the Sox don’t ask him to stay on in a front office capacity.
I could see him with the Mets.
Hey one–not unless cheap Wilson’s open their wallet, nay happens when they are absolutely desperate.
I agree. Would do well with their pitching staff. His record with the sox wasn’t that bad. He had injuries and no bats. DD going to finish off ruining the Red Sox.
If the Oakland A’s move to Cupertino I can see Farrell as the manager. He can lead the Apple Watch revolution.
The manager always takes the blame for short playoff runs. It’s not his fault Chris Sale got rocked in both starts or that half the Sox lineup struggled offensively. Not saying Farrell is a great coach or anything but I’m sure he will have no problem getting offers for the next season.
It was a FitBit…Good line though
I expect San Diego!
How can you possibly say he would do well with the pitching staff after how the Sox pitched this post season lol
Detroit News says Farrell’s not a candidate anyway.
Wow. Kind of an up and down history, but he’s won the last two division crowns with this team. And think about the clown he replaced.
Let’s see, one World Series win, two division crowns, putting up with the frenetic hirings of the front office. Yeah, blame Farrell who never pitched a ball, never faced an opposing pitcher, never had to field a ball in play. More evidence that the fanatical fan base in Boston wags the dog.
If the Yankees lose tonight, wouldn’t it be crazy if Girardi leaves and goes to the Red Sox, and then the Yankees get Farrell?
Yes
Wife Swap: AL East Edition
Ah, well done, sir.
No way, man!!! I would cut off Joe G at the airport or maybe even his home driveway (well in theory, not in practicality) and tell him he is going to Baltimore and manage the Orioles!!! I think Girardi is one of the best in the game.
Girardi is but so is Buck Showaltwer
I can’t stand Showalter!! And there’s a growing number of fans, though few, that don’t like Showalter either.
Showalter is garbage… doesnt do anything right. He should be fired
I don’t see why, he’s a great manager.
If Orioles fans are frustrated by their lack of success, they should be mad at the GM, because the orioles roster is very weak.
ATL would love to have Showalter. I met him years ago at the SEC Fanfare in Atlanta, as he was representing Miss St.
Showalter is probably the best manager the o’s have had since earl Weaver and should quit complaining about him and more about that tight wad owner.
Well, as far as I am concerned, you can have him!
No, nothing is going to change my mind about Showalter
If you really want to talk turkey, I don’t think it’s fair that DD has no say in the hiring and firing of the manager and the coaches.
The trilogy of Sholwater/Duquette/Angelos is untenable!
The Yankees would have already won the series if it wasn’t for Girardi.
Girardi is without a doubt the best manager that is hated by his own fanbase. In my view he’s among the top 5 managers in the game.
The Yankees will not want Farrell. Nobody will want him.
He can’t be worst than Scott Servais.
Would it be too hard for Farrell to swallow if someone wanted to hire him as a pitching coach? He was actually good at that.
I’d bank on Girardi coming to Boston.
I don’t think that’s going to happen
With a name like Death it makes sense that you would bank on Girardi coming to Boston. Joe is smart and careful. He would never work for Trader Dave and John Henry who keep repeating dumb mistakes.
I guess an empty bank account doesn’t matter to you death.
That would be wacky
Yes dlevin, as crazy as Bobby Valentine returning to the sod or the Mets
What a game huh? Didi homers twice off a Cy Young winner, then those two at bats by Gardner and Frazier. Wow!
I don’t see them beating Houston though.
On topic, I could see Girardi going to the Tigers if he’s fired.
Can’t believe it man. Crazy.
Not sure if this is a good move….. I know most of the fans are all for it.
Question is, who you get to replace him and it is going to be better?
I really don’t like hiring brand new guys with no experience like a Jason Varitek type.
Yes, because Torey Lovullo, Paul Molitor and Craig Counsell have all flopped.
Lovullo should have been the Red Sox manager this year.
I forget the timeframe specifically, but didn’t Lovullo leave in conjunction with Farrell’s cancer diagnosis? The Red Sox probably wanted him out then, but would have looked like bigger scumbags than they usually do, by dumping a guy with cancer. Now they can bad mouth him and get on with their usual smear campaign of former employees with a clear conscience…..
He took over when Farrell was diagnosed and coached the rest of the season and was allowed to pursue the Diamondbacks position after the conclusion of that season. Farrell’s cancer saved his job and cost us a good coach. I know the players responded well to Lovullo as they got their crap together and started winning games under him.
Lovullo was Farrell’s bench coach in 2016 as well. Farrell had cancer in 2015.
In fairness, none of the teams managed by these guys had a better season than Farrell’s Sox.
To be fair …nor did they have the payrolls
Arizona had the same record and Milwaukee finished 7 wins behind Boston with a weaker roster.
Good point.
Had to happen. Wasn’t really his fault that the offense sputtered across the board, but the ALDS really highlighted his managerial shortcomings that had been building up all season.
Ugh Every manager has flaws. JF won a World Series and back-to-back AL East titles so he should have been given another year IMO. Players such as Sale, JBJ, and Porcello disappeared and unfortunately will not be held accountable. Everyone thought Tito was done as a manager and he has done a good job in Cleveland. Regardless the manager position is a tough job especially in Boston. Good
Luck JF
I agree that it isn’t Farrell’s fault that Sale failed, and Porcello is so enigmatic I defy any manager to figure him out. Nor is he to blame for front-office decisions and directions; e.g., needing to regularly play the fading Ramirez in the hope he would become the Papi Junior.. From what I can tell Farrell also did an effective job – at least this year – utilizing his bullpen.
What I disagree with is the comment that “Everyone thought Tito was done as a manager.” The only people who thought that were a couple of opinionated players who have a bad habit of going over their managers’ heads (hint: one of them, and perhaps two, are now employed by the front office) and the ownership itself. The latter did Tito REALLY DIRTY on his way out, what with planting nasty stories in the local newspapers about personal issues that had nothing whatsoever to do with baseball. Cleveland quickly and knowingly scooped him up, and good for them.
“one of them, and perhaps two, are now employed by the front office) and the ownership itself. The latter did Tito REALLY DIRTY on his way out”
I’m curious to know whom. Wakefield and Varitek. Or Pedro?
well said
The window in Boston is big but not big enough to keep giving John Farrell “just one more year.” The writing has been on the wall for years now.
Time to find a couch for the now and one who doesn’t overplay Chris Sale at the end of the year when everyone know Chris Sale is exhausted come the end of the year.
This is one of the best cases of addition by subtraction in recent memory
… couldn’t agree more, JF.
Look Cardinals, everyone is doing it. If you want to find Mathney a replacement, now may be the time to join in the fun.
Oh the Cardinal front office loves that Matheny. No clue why
Yeah it’s beyond me. They tend to have favorites in most areas though, some players (Grichuk), some coaches (Maybury, Mathney), I just don’t get it.
I will win a billion dollar Powerball jackpot before DeWitt fires Matheny.
DeWitt & No generally make smart decisions, but Matheny is their worst decision ever.
My thoughts exactly, get him out!!!
I am not surprised by this, I have been saying that Farrell could get canned and today he did. As I said early on MASN that whole Eck/Price thing was outrageous.
What Price said to Eck is unfathomable to me and I don’t really like Eck, but the use of language was outrageous. Plus, as talented as the Red Sox are, the team chemistry was dreadful!!!! Maybe Dave D should go too!?!?!
When Doug Fister is your third starter as well as poor power numbers, for example. aren’t the expectations a bit unrealistic. Couldn’t one argue this team over achieved? Not sure he was the problem.
Another first round beat down is not over achieving so no
I think that what he’s saying is that another first round beat down is over achieving and I tend to agree
And I respect the opposing view
Astros are the better team. You can’t blame a manager for losing to a team that has an objectively better roster.
So glad the DBacks got Lovullo before the Red Sox had a chance to promote him themselves.
Varitek would be a good option. Papi as a hitting coach. And, I really hate to say this because Pedroia is my favorite player, but he has got to get in better shape for next year. He’s getting up in years and really needs to change his routine to try to regain his form and actually stay healthy for a full season.
Also, the Sox have GOT to add a big bat in the offseason.
I am pretty sure their sights are set on Mike Stanton
No chance they go after Stanton. They can sign Hosmer and Martinez combined for 100 million cheaper than Stanton’s contract and they don’t have to give anything up.
Not quite accurate as I believe that Hosmer will cost a draft pick as he will be offered a QA by the the Royals.
JD Martinez
I admit that Varitek has done an excellent job over the years of promoting himself as some type of Big Man On Campus, But that comes naturally from having an ego the size of Jupiter, and hardly makes him a “good option.”
A big ego is not necessarily harmful, and is indeed often beneficial when decisiveness is required. Varitek’s ego however – which as a player motivated, among other things, numerous meetings with upper management to throw his managers under the bus and the ridiculous uniform-decorated “captaincy” of the team – is not a substitute for the qualities required in a MLB manager. Additionally, and although there are certainly exceptions (e.g., Tony LaRussa), guys with colossal egos rarely achieve lasting success as MLB managers.
That Varitek hasn’t seen fit, from a professional development standpoint, to gain ANY managing or coaching experience speaks volumes, and suggests to me (I hope!) that he is not interested in managing.
Agreed…Varitek is famous in his own mind!
Bring in Tony La Russa haha
Boy Tony Lovullo would have looked real good. He would have been perfect but the Bosox botched that too. It was obvious to everyone else they should have made the move last year. Lovullo was not going to be there forever. DD blew it.
Tony Lovullo might be available. Is he Torey’s brother?
nice
Farrell is as bad an in game manager as there is in all of baseball but he is pretty good at managing the media and protecting the players. I really think it is unfair for the Red Sox to put the blame on Farrell for this year. I think John Henry deserves a lot of the blame because he was unwilling to spend to get the bat they needed. Encarnacion practically begged Boston to sign him this off season at a bargain 3/60 rate and Henry refused to go over the Luxury Tax. If Henry doesn’t loosen up the purse strings and sign Martinez/Hosmer this off season the Sox will get embarrassed again in October.
As bad an in game manager as there is in all of baseball? Bryan Price would like a word.
Ever heard of Robin Ventura?
Good points Kevin. But obviously the manager is always the one. The owners do not fire themselves too often 🙂 but you are correct in your analysis
How do you blame ownership for not opening the purse strings because of the luxury tax? If anyone is to blame, it would be the GM for not utilizing the funds available to get the correct personnel. No way ownership can be blamed when payroll is at the luxury tax level.
The problem with that is few a signings weren’t his (pablo/Hanley in particular) which account for roughly 40 million a year. I thought from the beginning it was weird to make the trade for sale and not go all in and at least surpass the luxury tax a little bit for someone to help offset the loss of papi a little more.
You can certainly blame the ownership when they stepped in and made deals the GM had decided against. Like Panda, Ramirez, and Price.
We have the same problem with the O’s. Angelos is constantly stepping in and making baseball operations decisions like resigning Davis and not allowing trades to be made that would help the team win.
Redsox have always over valued their young players. Remember ESPN doing Jackie Bradley scroll updates his rookie year like he was the greatest player of all time? Then he was sent to the minors.
I do not watch ESPN for that reason. They are clueless.
Nah they’re just the most watched,most powerful sports network on earth…
Yeah they over valued Betts and Benintendi and JBJ and Devers and Xander and Vaquez. Those guys amounted to nothing.
Sox need a consistent home run hitter at DH
Farrell crapped the bed with indifference when he was Blue Jays manager because he only wanted to be with the Red Sox. Now that they’re done with him, I hope everyone else is too. The man is a cad!
Bobby V is knocking….
Good one!
The door and windows are locked and bolted.
Chicken and beer anyone?
Worst record in baseball anyone? Where is contract offer to a player in baseball anyone?
Worst record in baseball anyone?
Worst player contract in baseball anyone?
Wrong manager. Only Tito would allow chicken & beer.
Sox need to hire DeMarlo Hale…impeccable credentials…has worked in Boston…sin he’s not already managing…much better way to show commitment to diversity than changing the name of a Street…he should get it hands down…
DeMarlo is am interesting choice. Good call
Curse of the Panda!
The Sox should sign Alex Cora.
NO!
He has to go coach the Mets. Please. :/
I hope Dombrowksi has at least a short list of people he wants to manage or else this is a pointless knee jerk reaction.
I agree
Now time to get rid of the over hyped, over paid Cancer, David Price.
Hire Big Papi as manager and Jason Varitek as assistant manager and hitting coach
I don’t want Varitek teaching anyone how to hit
I would flip those roles and it would be perfect
It would be perfect if you were a Yankees, Orioles, Jays or Rays fan. If you are a Red Sox fan you should be screaming NOOOOOOOOO right about now if they are even considering Varitek.
Go for Bobby Valentine or Ozzie Guillen
Grady Little reunion.
With the exception of a couple managers, most are only as good as the team they are provided. Even the best will only get you say five more wins.
Generally most will make their mistakes that cost games, and will make the right call that will win others…the costly ones are the ones that are remembered though.
People mention that Dusty Baker could be hall worthy because of his record, but that is a easy thing to get when you are normally stuck with teams with elite hitters and pitching staffs loaded with front line starters
I don’t see the Red Sox hiring a manager who will be a difference maker simply because so few of them exist.
Really they have two jobs
1. put your players in the best position for them to succeed. Their success is your success
2. Don’t throw them under the bus. If they fail you need to take some of the pressure off of them.
These aren’t pre-teens learning the game, I imagine that if anyone that hits this site were told they had to manage a team for a year their record wouldn’t be that different then these managers.
I’d honestly like big Papi as manager haha. I think if DD wanted to get rid of Farrell he should have done it last year and replaced him with lovullo. Now I’m fearful we might have a repeat of valentine someone who is brought in to change the culture and it goes sideways. I’ll wait to see who he hires before making a final decision but I hope to God he does bring brad ausmus
Ron Gardenhire will definitely get a interview for this position. He is the most qualified person available for the position. Demarlo Hale should also be given serious consideration. Farrell getting axed also sweetened Joe Girardi’s next deal due to increased bargaining power.
I wonder if we won’t see a lot of this going forward, especially with the competitive and mid to large market teams. More modern FO’s, armed with younger personnel into new metrics, and a decent-sized checkbook, may convince themselves that the manager need only not to mess things up. Can’t comment on Farrell specifically, but it’s interesting that managers who have recently had success are either getting fired, or being talked about as candidates for being fired.
Maybe Belichick wants a spring/summer job.
That would be a wicked smart move!
Disarcina, Cora, or Ausmus would be three that will get serious consideration. Im hoping for Alex Cora.
Maybe they should fire the gm and quit hiring that cry baby
The edict to stay under the luxury tax had a ripple effect to tie Dombrowski’s hands in free agent/trade deals thus crippling the roster build for Farrell. As in ALL the dumb moves this past decade the onus sits on the heads of ownership. They forced Epstein out in favor of the powermonger Lucchino, they back stabbed the only good manager since Dick Williams, they forced their puppet Cherington to sign useless Ramirez and Sandoval. They went gaga over Price thus further crippling (financially) what a GM could do! The Three Stooges (Henry, Werner and Lucchino) owe Boob Selig for changing the rules at the eleventh hour so they could buy the sox.
I think Farrel will go be a pitching coach for a couple years ( show everyone that he is a good coach again) then get his next managing shot. I think the card would be a good fit maybe the rays, maybe even the Nate as a bench coach and successor to dusty in 2 years.
It’s his fault David Price was a complete bust? Trusting Devers mid-season with everything that was on the line and how tight that division was and all he did was provide the spark or all sparks. Pedroia got hurt and regressed horribly again. Hanley did the same. The bullpen has zero talent outside of Kimberl coming into the season. Steven Wright lost for the year almost out the gate would have at least provided a solid low end SP3. Given all the circumstances including playing inspired baseball down to the Bot 9th and stealing a game from a team that all but certainly wins the ring was pretty solid, imo. Everything that has happened since 2012 helped, everything leftover from before crippled this team. If the money spent on Pedroia and Price went to an innings eater, few bullpen pieces, and an option to add at the deadline….
Unfortunately, it’s always the managers fault.
The Sox traded with the BlueJays to get him, and now that the team has fallen apart at the seams, its his fault that they didn’t win it all.
I would love to see names of managers to make the interview list to include Gabe Kapler, Sandy Alomar Jr, Ron Gardenhire, Alex Cora and my dark horse candidate Jim Hickey the pitching coach for the Rays. He year after year has the Rays competitive despite basically AAAA level pitching and knows David Price and his inner workings very well
Plain and simple, Farrell is just an ahole of a person.
Looking in the mirror again?
Not my daughter he was a Mitch
Shame the poor guy had to fall on his sword because the pitching staff, particularly Sale, was just plain gassed. May have more to do with the great roll the rival Yankees are on.
Chris Sale was gassed because Farrell overused him. It’s well known that Sale fades come September.
Hallelujah and so long.
The Redsox should Hire Jason Varitek as the new manager. He has been a special assistant to Dombrowski and was a very cerebral player for the Sox for 2 decades. He would be perfect!
Variety is famous in his own mind!
No managing experience…not what the Sox need. They might as well hire Yaz if being a cerebral player is the main criteria.
I hope they hire Bobby Valentine!
I’m very happy to hear this news. I understand why fans of other teams can look at the track record and think this is a silly move. If you watch this team daily, you see that the Red Sox win due to a ton of talent. The biggest issues with Farrell were not just his specific in-game decisions, but his complete lack of direction and conviction in the decisions he was making. It always seemed he was managing backwards, making decisions today based on mistakes he was called on yesterday. Of course it’s great for a manager to adjust and adapt his gameplan, but true fans could see that Farrell’s decisions never made sense, they were always based on the pressure he was feeling from fans and the media.
That’s just part of it. He was just simply not a good leader. The clubhouse was stiff. This team had no leadership. They won in ’13 thanks to the combination of Ortiz, Ross, Gomes, Nap, Victorino, Lester, etc. They won in spite of Farrell’s incompetency as a manager.
Chilli Davis needs to be the next to go. The Red Sox offensive approach is not just antiquated and obsolete. Relying on grinding at bats to get the starter out of the game is playing right in to the hands of the opponent in today’s MLB with power bullpens galore.
I think they need to go hard for Hosmer. They need a lefty power bat, a first baseman, and most importantly an experienced leader. Hosmer checks all three boxes in a big way.
I think a lot of teams would have kept farrell. 1 ws win and two division championships. the team hasnt been the same since David Ortiz retired. FAT panda was not the answer as a replacement. thats not farrells fault. i think dombrowski just wanted to bring in his own manager anayway. and would dustin pedroia please stop making the last out in a series. hes done that two years in a row! drop him to 7th or something.
and deny the world his post game blame fest….
Made to the playoffs, after that it’s a crap shoot.
I think the BSox made a bad
Move
Jason Varitek? it’s always kind of been assumed he would someday be an MLB manager.
Based on what experience would you trust one the the Al East’s elite teams too him….and don’t tell us because he was a catcher it automatically qualifies him for being a manager.
What qualifies him for the job. the big “C” he wore on his uniform?
Not until Papelbon is manager first.
I’d rate Farrell a B. Didn’t hate him but felt the Red Sox could have done better. David Ross is my 1st choice to replace him. Tek is my 2nd choice. They should also pick up Hosmer this off season. The team never was able to replace Ortiz’s clutch hitting and RBI’s. The Red Sox are close. Hosmer can hopefully be “the man”. Check out his stats at Fenway. The guy is a pure #4 hitter all the way.
David Ross with Varitek bench coach
I think Jason would be a great manager for redsox! I’m a Cubs fan and this changes the discussion but gas anyone paid attention to Jimmy Rollings doing pregame on TBS it’s fantastic! I would think he would be a great color analysis for radio and eventually TV! I would take him for Ron Comer in a heartbeat! He’s the first new, I believe since last year that’s ready! He’s clear,.he’s intelligent, great voice! I know I might tick some off changeing the topic but I believe he’s that good! He wouldn’t fit in about 5 teams but the rest you could plug him in! I like Ron Coomer because he bleeds Cub’s blue! What does everyone think?
Eric Hosmer
2008 1st round (3rd pick) by the Kansas City Royals
Stadiums G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB K SB CS AVG OBP SLG OPS
Fenway 21 99 15 35 4 0 3 17 8 21 3 1 .354 .404 .485 .889
Can you spell long term contract that will remind you very much of another first baseman you managed to pawn off on the Dodgers when he didn’t “bash the ball like Paps” as expected.
Alex Cora will be the next manager in Boston.
Yet Mike Scioscia is still the angels manager.
The perfect guy to replace Farrell is without a doubt, Philly bench coach Larry Bowa. Fiery, experienced, he’d get the Sox to stop underachieving!!!
Jim Leyland for one year?
Ozzie G. ? I
THIS IS A FRANCHISE THAT FIRED TERRY FRANCONA and HIRED BOBBY VALENTINE…………..loloolloooololololol
Another stupid move by Dumbo
Good prediction.