Toronto Blue Jays Managerial Candidates – Who Will Replace Farrell

 Sandy Alomar Jr leads a list of Blue Jays Manager options

With John Farrell headed back to Boston to try and resurrect a team from a dreadful 2012 season, the focus now shifts to the Toronto Blue Jays. Lost in all the hoopla surrounding Farrell is that the Blue Jays now have to find their own manager. Whether or not the deal for Farrell to become the Red Sox manager was good for the Blue Jays or was good for the Red Sox will continue to be debated.

The general consensus seems to Boston got who they wanted all along , and the Blue Jays got rid of someone they didnt want.

Sending Farrell to Boston in return for infielder Mike Aviles is the most one-sided trade in Blue Jays’ history. It’s not nearly the biggest, and it may in the end have no real impact on the on-field product. But it is already a win. TheStar.com

The Red Sox needed a manager they trusted, and one with whom they would be willing to wipe the slate clean and fight for. Farrell has proven that he knows how the Fenway structure works, both with management and with players, and he has good relationships with many position players and pitchers. NESN.com

Similar to how the Red Sox unloaded unwanted players and salary to the Dodgers, Toronto General Manager Alex Anthopoulos gets another chance to choose a manager more consistent with his philosophy and to do so without the threat of fans and media blowback.

Farrell and Anthopoulos didn’t always see eye-to-eye this season, and Farrell’s  departure to Boston gives Anthopoulos an unfettered opportunity to get it right this time. Farrell had a 154-170 managerial record in his two years with the Jays, and is not likely to be missed by either fans or media.

The Blue Jays manager candidates might include Tampa Bay Rays bench coach Dave Martinez, Cleveland Indians bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr , Baltimore Orioles bench coach DeMarlo Hale. Blue Jays first base coach Torey Lovullo would likely be a candidate as well, however, Farrell will look to bring Lovullo to Boston with him.

Toronto was decimated with injuries in 2012 especially to the pitching staff. Offensively the Jays can compete with anyone in the American League East. Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion, Brett Lawrie and Rajai Davis make up a solid core of position players. J.P Arencibia is solid at catcher and Brandon Morrow, Ricky Romero and Henderson Alvarez lead a pitching staff that will need help.

Whoever the choice for the next Blue Jays manager, he won’t be working with an empty cupboard.