After back-to-back early postseason exits in the ALDS, the Red Sox decided to part ways with manager John Farrell. There was already speculation before the dismissal that Farrell was on the hot seat, and the rumor mill has only picked up speed now that Boston’s search has officially begun. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski will now have his first opportunity to personally hire a manager since joining the Red Sox in the summer of 2015.
As we’ve done with the Tigers, Mets, and Phillies, we’ll begin to house all of the managerial chatter for the Red Sox in one place and update accordingly as candidates either further their case or are removed from consideration. Here’s where Boston’s search stands, at present:
Latest Updates
- The club is expected to conduct a second round of interviews before making any offers of employment, per Evan Drellich of NBC Sports Boston (via Twitter). There’s a sense inside the organization, though, that Cora is the front-runner, Drellich further writes. ESPN.com’s Buster Olney (Twitter link) hears that both Cora and Ausmus are “at the center of conversations,” with expectations being that it won’t take long to name a new manager.
Will Interview/Have Interviewed
- Recently departed Tigers skipper Brad Ausmus has interviewed for the position, as Chad Jennings of the Boston Herald reported on Twitter and we covered further in another post.
- Astros bench coach Alex Cora is expected to interview with the Sox on Sunday, Dan Shaughnessy of the Boston Globe reports. He’s Boston’s top candidate for the job, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (on Twitter). Cora is also expected to interview for the Tigers and Mets openings. Though Cora is still in the midst of his first coaching stint on a big league staff, the 41-year-old has long been considered a promising managerial candidate, previously receiving interviews for openings with the Diamondbacks, Marlins, Nationals and Padres in recent years. Cora enjoyed a 14-year career in the big leagues (including a stint with the Red Sox from 2005-08) before moving on to work as an analyst for ESPN and ESPN Deportes, and as a general manager in the Puerto Rican Baseball League.
- The Red Sox have requested the Diamondbacks’ permission to interview bench coach Ron Gardenhire, Rosenthal tweets; he’s expected to chat with the team later this week, per Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe (via Twitter). The former Twins manager is one of the “final three” candidates for the job, according to Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (via Twitter)
Preliminary Candidates (Interview Status Unknown)
- In addition to Ausmus, Indians first base coach Sandy Alomar Jr., Dodgers bench coach Bob Geren, Giants hitting coach Hensley Meulens have all been mentioned as likely or speculative candidates by several reporters (including Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe, NBCSports.com’s Evan Drellich and the Boston Herald’s Chad Jennings). Ausmus may be a particular name to watch, as Dombrowski hired him as Detroit’s manager after the 2013 season and (according to Peter Gammons) Ausmus delivered a very strong performance when interviewing for Boston’s last managerial opening in the 2012-13 offseason.
Not in the Mix/No Longer in Consideration
- Current members of the Red Sox coaching staff have been told that they are free to look for jobs outside the organization. When asked if an internal candidate could be hired, Dombrowski said “most likely not, but I’m not going to say for sure not.” This would more or less seem to rule out names like bench coach Gary DiSarcina, hitting coach Chili Davis or third base coach Brian Butterfield, who have all been linked to previous managerial openings in the past.
- Dombrowski also expressed a preference for candidates with past managerial or coaching experience on a Major League staff, so longtime Red Sox catcher and current Dombrowski special assistant Jason Varitek doesn’t seem to be in the running.
Bobby V MGR
Eck pitching coach
Panda hitting coach
David Ortiz can be 3rd base coach. He had a great steal once that I’m sure he can tell the young’uns about.
Go ‘Stros
Jim Leyland
Not Interested.
Cough….go take that cigarette outside.
I don’t know if you are being serious, but Leyland is too old, plus not interested in managing any more.
Butterfield is a better candidate than Geren or Meulens.
PLEASE hire bam bam. Probably will be fine as manager but not doing so well with Giants hitters. Should have been replaced a long time ago.
Wotus should get first look. Muelens name is purely to satisfy the need to interview a minority, though he is more than capable.
Manager=Cora
Third base = Merloni
You win – you get fired. The ghost of Steinbrenner now haunts you.
The Les Miles approach hasn’t led to results at LSU, either.
Ghosts are spirits that don’t make into heaven. Steinbrenner was a 2 time convicted felon, they Def dont make it into heaven, so you might be onto something…..
Lol thanks for the Ghost insight Death.
I am Death…..
Oh so you somehow know who gets in and who does not?
I honestly didn’t know that about George. What did he do?
Wade Boggs
Ausmus didnt like the detroit media… Boston will make him go to the Looney bin.
Gabe Kapler should get a look
True. Gabe was awesome in “Welcome Back Kotter”.
I think Brad has learned a lot from his days w/ the media and he’s from up there so knows what to expect. The Houston media is extremely soft, more so than Detroit’s so he might have a problem with it.
Alex Cora and Jays bench coach DeMarlo Hale would be the first and possibly only candidates that I’d interview if I was Dombrowski.
Gabe Kapler in the mix !! What about Rich Gedman and Gary Allenson seems like off all my former catchers get interviews. Carlton Fisk can we come our special Organizational substance abuse counselor or Dennis Eckersley. Although I say the Goodman Ellenson Clement tongue-in-cheek I am semi serious about a substance abuse counselor with some pull on staff. Every team in professional sports has a few players that are greatly affected by substance-abuse if each team had a substance abuse counselor on staff there was good at their job and had a 20 % success rate which is more than double the averageThe position will pay for itself and the impact on the team would be significant it’s just an outside the box thought
Please take Scott Servais from the M’s! This guy surely knows how to manage a team, plus he’s so good at winning close games.
The new era of dumbo !!!
Dombrowski was quoted on ESPN today that he will interview/consider hiring his close friend Bobby Valentine because he has a great “baseball mind” and Winning attitude.
As a Yankee fan I hope so. Bobby V would be great to ride DD’s latest team destruction.
I don’t know why they haven’t interviewed Kapler. He has succeeded at every level since entering the front office. He’s in charge of player development for he dodgers and has back to back Roy winners, plus other well performing young players in the organization. That’s exactly what the Sox need.
No big league management exper which is import to DD, outside of Alex “the Second Coming” Cora that is
How would Red Sox fans feel about bringing Torey Lovullo back as manager? Was he well regarded as the Red Sox bench coach? He is one of the leading candidates for NL Manager of the Year for the job he did with turning the D’backs from a 69-93 record in 2016 to a 93-69 record and Wild Card host in 2017.
Ausmus’ teams in Detroit looked a lot like John Farrell’s Sox – unprepared and easily rattled. Cora? I don’t think I can go Cora, though he’s certainly got potential. Have to go with Gardy.
2 different teams and the core of the tigers fell apart the last 4 seasons. Plus Brad has manager experience now and from the sound of him, has learned much re how he would do it over
Cora is leading candidate but DD said he wants Major league experience. Sounds more like Ausmus or gardenhire.
Is Bob Geren really being considered for this job!!! LOL
Alex Cora tweeted out “blessed!!!!” Last night. This AFTER the Astros lost to the Yankees. Wonder if he’s been told by the Sox (or maybe even the Mets) that’s he’s the guy they’ll hire?
Reading a lot into nothing. Maybe he was talking about his family or the opportunities he has had. Doubt he would let that out or even know when they were still interviewing RG today.
Alex Cora is everyone’s star right now bc he’s never managed in MLB so everyone is hoping and expecting him to be the new wonder kid. Many before him have gone this way as well to be crucified by media and fans by the 2nd week of season. He’s an unknown factor so don’t get hopes up. It’s not about what have you done as much as are you winning now when managing. Keep expectations low til he’s got some managerial experience under his belt. MLB is far diff than WBC or ESPN analyst
Lou Pinella!