After waiting until late November last season to name Bobby Valentine their new manager, the Red Sox didn’t wait nearly as long this year as they have reportedly reached a multi-year deal with former Red Sox pitching coach and Blue Jays manager John Farrell to become their new manager. CSNNE.com was first to report the news.
Farrell was under contract with Toronto until the end of 2013, so the two teams needed to complete a trade in order for Farrell to return to Boston. The Red Sox will send shortstop Mike Aviles to the Blue Jays according to WEEI, and the player Boston will receive should be announced shortly. Reports from Toronto say it could be first baseman Adam Lind.
Over the past week the Red Sox interviewed Tim Wallach, DeMarlo Hale, Brad Ausmus and Tony Pena, but the thought all along was that Farrell was the team’s No.1 choice.
Farrell, 50, spent four seasons as the Red Sox pitching coach developing current starters Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz. Following the 2009 season Farrell left Boston to become the manager of the Toronto Blue Jays.
In his two seasons with the Blue Jays he finished with a disappointing 154-170 record, finishing fourth in the division in both years. He was considered to have underachieved in his time in Toronto.
Returning to Boston means Farrell will lead the rebuilding process following the Red Sox’ worst season in more then 40 years, but his past experience as pitching coach and knowing some of the players should benefit the new Sox skipper.
