Manager Joe Maddon is now available, but the Red Sox won’t be hiring him, owner John Henry tells the Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo (via Twitter). “Joe Maddon is an excellent manager. But we are extremely happy with John,” says Henry. Farrell, of course, led the Sox to a World Series victory in his first season on the job before a disappointing 71-win season in 2014. Here are more notes out of Boston.
- New Red Sox hitting coach Chili Davis’ new three-year contract runs a year past the expiration of that of manager John Farrell, Cafardo writes. Generally, coaches’ contracts don’t extend longer than those of their manager. Cafardo cautions us not to read into this too deeply, however — the Red Sox offered three years to prevent Davis from signing on with the Yankees instead.Farrell is heading into the third year of a four-year deal that will expire after the 2016 season.
- Reliever Craig Breslow does not sound optimistic that the Sox will pick up his $4MM 2015 option rather than paying him a $100K buyout, WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford writes. “If you were to strictly look at 2014 with blinders without what had happened previously and what you might expect to happen going forward, $4 million is probably a hefty price tag,” says the lefty, who posted a 5.96 ERA, 6.1 K/9 and 4.6 BB/9 in 54 1/3 innings in 2014. Nonetheless, Breslow remains confident that he’ll have a bounce-back season. “If they were to decline it I would be a bargain for somebody and I’ll pitch to the value of the contract,” he says.
While I know it’s not what he meant but when Breslow said “….it would be a bargain for somebody and I’ll pitch to the value of the contract”, it comes off as “if all i get is a minor league contract im throwing nothing but flat fastballs”.
There was doubt over Farrell’s job security? I know Maddons a great manager but lets not get ahead of ourselves.
There wasn’t. It was just media speculation. They’re asking the front office of every team that can possibly meet Maddon’s salary demands.
Maddon may find out there’s not as much demand for a manager who hasn’t won a playoff series since 2008 as he thought there was. The national media loves him for his bush league hijinks, but the reality is that he’s no better than any other successful manager. He’s had a lot of talent in Tampa, and he’s won with it. He hasn’t done anything special.
Can’t agree with you, the talent he’s had in Tampa has been no better than an average, non-contending team, IMO. Sure, he has had some great pitchers over the years but, the position players as a whole haven’t been spectacular. The fact is, Maddon finds a way to win with any sort of ball club despite the talent level; he brings the best out in the players he has. IMO, he will be in great demand, and I think the Twins might be the best possible fit.
Obviously it’s way to early to read too much into the Davis signing as it relates to Farrell’s future. But let’s be honest, if Farrell has 2 more non-competitive seasons (2015 and 2016) I think that “extremely happy with John” that Henry seems to feel right now will go away real quick.
I expect the same kind of output from the Sox we saw this past season. Farrell is not a good manager
I think that’s overly pessimistic. I don’t see how a team with their financial wherewithal can struggle to win 70 games 2 years in a row and 3 out of the last 4 potentially. Depending on the moves they make this winter I see them as just barely a .500 team. We’ll see.
And I bet you’d say they got lucky and outperformed their talent level in 2013. You can’t have it both ways.
Anything to back that up? (besides just pointing out 2013)
The Red Sox should absolutely look into Maddon if theyreserious about competing next season and beyond. farrell is a mediocre manager, he didnt do well in toronto and rode a long wave of team chemistry (a team that was just happy to have Bobby V gone) to the WS. Look at 2014, that the kind of manager Farrell really is and that is what i expect from the teams he manages. Its not only the red sox, 2/3rds of teams should be looking into Madon, Yankees, Mets, Cubs, Cardinals, A’s, Angels and braves among them
You’re right, Farrell is responsible for the team’s inability to hit with RISP. He is at blame for all the loses and not responsible for any of the victories. Seriously, even the best manager in baseball gives you 2 or 3 additional victories in a season. Blame Farrell if you want, but he didn’t strikeout with RISP or throw meatballs. The players are responsible for this season, and the GM for thinking they were good enough to compete. The manager is just trapped in the middle of all of that, with very little control over the situation.
Agreed. But he’s not any more responsible for the 2013 World Series than he is the 2014 disappointment.
True. The biggest thing he brought to the table in 2013 was not being Bobby V. He did that very well.
Then why not eliminate the whole manager role in general. if they do not help nor hurt the cause then its just ownership wasting money. It would make Maddon irrelevant and all the good he did for the Rays
That is exactly what I said. They don’t have much impact on whether the team wins or loses, but they still have job responsibilities. They put players in a position where they can win baseball games. That’s it.
I hate the Red Sox, but even I have to tip my cap to Farrell. He turned that team around and they outperformed everything. Hes a good manager.
did they really though? yes they won the WS in 2013, which is awesome and all, good for them, but then they promptly crashed back down to earth the following season. didn’t even go down with a fight. In my opinion, they rode a wave of team chemistry all the way to the title, the beards and bobby V being gone and The marathon tragedy gave them the will to excel and outperform expectations. the chemistry was not there in 2014, and that begins with management including the on the field manager.
Chemistry is created as a byproduct of a winning team. It exists because the team wins it does not cause them to win.
You may have just become my favorite person here!
We aim to please.
I love how you credit the chemistry being there on everything but Farrell, but you blame him for the lack of chemisty the following year and say chemistry begins with management.