The Tigers signed manager Jim Leyland to a one-year contract extension today, which means there are still just three teams looking for managers. Here are the latest managerial notes, starting in the AL East…
- The Red Sox announced that they've hired longtime Blue Jays coach Brian Butterfield to coach third base in Boston. Butterfield joins manager John Farrell and bench coach Torey Lovullo as former Blue Jays personnel in Boston.
- Multiple teams were actively courting Butterfield before he signed in Boston, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reports (on Twitter).
- The Dodgers have granted the Blue Jays permission to interview third base coach Tim Wallach for their managerial opening, Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times reports. The Blue Jays wanted to interview Wallach the last time they had a managerial opening, in 2010. However, Wallach wasn't allowed to interview because of a clause in his contract. Sandy Alomar Jr., DeMarlo Hale and Don Wakamatsu also appear to be in the mix for the Toronto job. Butterfield had been a candidate before accepting his new position in Boston.
andyfrank
obviously, there was something super fishy in the Jays head office in 2012, to have three guys jump ship, two of them loyal to Farrell, speaks volumes.
meanguygary
More like, these coaches had 1 year contracts & the Jays want to grant the incoming Manager leeway in naming his own coaching staff.
Lefty_Orioles_Fan
The problem with everyone leaving and giving the “New” manager leeway, is that the Blue Jays have to replace them too!
Bombastic_Dave
Actually, I love this idea. If Butters and Farrell are on the same page, strategically, they should definitely stay together.
A manager should definitely be able to choose his coaches. Good manager-friendly move by AA to let it happen.
Steelslayer
Like he said below–one year contracts— and a fresh start with new coach getting his guys. Lovullo came with Farrell, Butter is a New Englander
redsox4434
Lovullo also managed Pawtucket in 2010.
ice_hawk10
i doubt butterfield is particularly loyal to farrell, they spent exactly one (horrible) season together. More like butterfield is from new england and knew his position with the jays was tenuous at best with a new manager coming in. in fact, the jays probably told him to move on if he had the chance.
dc21892
Nice that Farrell is able to get the guys he can trust and that he had in Toronto. Just surprised they were willing to both come. I’m most eager to see the pitching coach. Obviously Farrell is going to have a hand in helping the pitchers out but he has the responsibility of managing 25 guys before he dabbles in certain areas. That why its important he can select a strong candidate for that job.
go_jays_go
Tori Lovullo is a former AAA Pawtucket Manager.
Brian Butterfield is from the New England area (I think Maine).
So in a way, they do have some ‘connection’ to the Boston Red Sox.
Lunchbox45
They need jobs, thats why it was easy for them to go.
They didnt want to risk not being renewed by the new manager
dc21892
Butterfield was a canidate for a better coaching position in Toronto.
Lunchbox45
no he’s stated numerous times that he does not want to be a manager
BeenThereDoneIt
This is false. If he didnt wasnt to be a Manager, he wouldnt be taking these interviews. Any thought to the contrary is overlooking the obvious.
Lunchbox45
what interview did he take?
William 3
looks like the Pitching coach will be Rick Peterson..
dc21892
That would be awesome.
sourbob
He’ll get them fixed up in…
Ah, never mind. Too easy.
jays023
I didn’t want to see Butterfield leave
safari_punch
I did.
They needed to clean that club house out.
Lunchbox45
Its obviously not going to be Don Waka, or else they probably wouldn’t have let butter leave
thefridge99
They didn’t let butter leave, he wasn’t under contract.
Lunchbox45
they could have renewed him. they told him to look for a new job because his wasn’t guaranteed
Howard
DTA
jaysfan1994
And the hits keep coming to Toronto.
BeenThereDoneIt
No huge losses all around. The pitching coach and Hitting coach are the ones that would be hardest to replace just based on philosophy adjustment alone.
Lunchbox45
I’ve never liked dwayne murphys philosophy anyways.
jaysfan1994
Murphy seems to be the only coach actually helping on this Jays squad. Both Edwin and Jose contribute their success of Murphy changing their swinging mechanics.
Lunchbox45
if you give him credit for jose and EE (ee refined his mechanics in the minors)
then do you take credit away for guys like lind, snider, hill, ?
jaysfan1994
Edwin didn’t redefine anything last year. Stop making up facts, he changed his swing this offseason by finishing with a two handed swing instead of a uncontrolled one handed finish. Edwin’s mechanic issue is what changed him from a 35 doubles guy of 2011 to a 20 doubles guy with 40 homeruns of 2012. Hill will never be the same player that hot 30 homeruns with a .300 average. His numbers are reflective of Arizona’s hot climate and spacious outfield where hitting is easier in the NL because people don’t have insane amount of range like they do playing in say Yankee stadium.
sourbob
I’m trying to think of other instances in which a manager and much of his staff from a losing team were brought in with the hopes of building a contender. Lou Piniella to the Cubs, maybe? How much of Guillen’s staff came with him last year?
start_wearing_purple
Eh, I too much is made of a manager’s previous record. Before Joe Torre became a yankee legend he overall had 15 average years being a manager. Terry Francona had 4 miserable years in Philly before his success in Boston. Bruce Bochy had 12 up and down seasons in San Diego and an awful start in SF but he’s lead his team to 2 WS wins in 3 years.
Not saying this proves anything, just sometimes it seems baseball teams are like blind chemistry experiments. Get the right players, coaches, etc and you can get something great. If not: Boom.
sourbob
I don’t necessarily disagree. It’s just odd how often this is tried lately, given how risk-averse MLB teams usually are.
laketrout
It’s probably safe to assume Butterfield was not being offered the Jay’s manager’s position. Once AA confirmed to him that he was not in the running for the job he was free to accept Farrell’s offer to come to Boston. And I would find it hard to believe Butterfield would stay with the Jay’s after being passed over again.
TheBlueWaffles
Out With the Old, In With the New.
AP 2
If I knew the Red Sox were taking the entire Jays coaching staff, I’d have wanted a lot more than Aviles. I can’t believe Beeston is letting the Red Sox get away with tampering.