Who Will be the Next Manager of the Red Sox?

Red Sox will pursue Toronto Blue Jays skipper John Farrell

Who will be the next manager of the Boston Red Sox? That is a prominent question across baseball circles now that the club has dismissed Bobby Valentine after just one season at the helm.

The Red Sox, which finished 69-93 and in last place in the American League East, will pursue Toronto Blue Jays skipper John Farrell, according to multiple media reports, including Bob Nightengale of the USA Today.

Valentine will be paid the $2.5 million he is owed for 2013, and if the Red Sox want Farrell (who has one year remaining on his deal with the Blue Jays), they will likely have to surrender a Major Leaguer like reliever Daniel Bard. Last off-season, the Red Sox expressed interest in Farrell and the Blue Jays asked for right-haded starting pitcher Clay Buchholz.

Boston.com’s Nick Cafardo issued a Twitter post saying that the Red Sox will go after Farrell, but to not rule out Jason Varitek as a potential managerial candidate. The beloved Varitek retired during spring training this year after  spending 15 seasons as a catcher for the Red Sox.

Terry Francona, who was fired in October 2011 after Boston’s monumental collapse but won two World Series titles in his tenure with the club, told ESPN that Farrell, former Red Sox bench coach and current Orioles third base coach DeMarlo Hale, longtime Red Sox bench coach and former Astros manager Brad Mills and 2012 Red Sox bench coach Tim Bogar are ideal candidates to replace Valentine. All four names worked with Francona.

Along with the names Francona mentioned – and Varitek – ESPNBoston.com’s Gordon Edes wrote that Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux, Rays bench coach Dave Martinez, Indians interim manager Sandy Alomar Jr., Padres special assistant and former big league catcher Brad Ausmus, Marlins bench coach Joey Cora, former Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell, Dodgers special assistant and former Red Sox third baseman Bill Mueller, Blue Jays first base coach Torey Lovullo and Cardinals third base coach Jose Oquendo are other managerial candidates.

Farrell appears to be the most logical selection since he would immediately command the players’ respect, which is something that was lacking for Valentine. Farrell also has good working relationships with starting pitchers Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz, and he understands the pressure of managing in demanding Boston market.