Alex Anthopoulos had an upset stomach on Sunday that probably lingered for 24 hours once the Blue Jays general manager started receiving numerous emails and phone calls about a report in a Boston newspaper that suggested manager John Farrell was the preferred choice to fill the managerial vacancy with the Red Sox.
Until Tuesday, the possibility existed that Farrell —whom Toronto hired away from the Red Sox a year ago Tuesday — could entertain such an opportunity, given the Blue Jays' open-ended employee policy that allowed an employee to speak freely with other teams without any compensation sought.
But after the emails and phone calls to Anthopoulos, team president and CEO Paul Beeston and other staff became unmanageable, it was time to address the media on a conference call.
First, a joint news release from Anthopoulos and Beeston was issued Tuesday stating that, “due to the distraction caused by media speculation regarding our employee permission policy, the Toronto Blue Jays have amended their policy and will not grant permission for lateral moves.”
In other words, Farrell will not be managing the Red Sox next season.
"We're not going to ignore the media. We have a responsibility to respond [to rumours]," Anthopoulos said on Tuesday's conference call with reporters, adding the Boston Globe story about Farrell had merit because of the set up of the Jays' previous employee policy.
"Knowing [the policy] is [now] a little more strict and a little more defined, I think it'll eliminate a lot of [those types of rumours] and certainly cut down on the amount of time we have to spend [addressing the media]."
No exceptions
Under the Jays' amended policy, employees in the baseball operations department will not be allowed to speak to teams about a lateral move, even if compensation is offered.
"If it's a lateral move we're not preventing anybody from improving themselves," Anthopoulos said, "and if it's a promotion, guys will certainly be allowed to talk."
Last week, Blue Jays assistant GM Tony LaCava is said to have interviewed for the vacant GM's job with the Baltimore Orioles.
The Boston Globe recently reported that the Red Sox preferred Farrell as the team’s next manager after Terry Francona was told at the end of the regular season that the 2012 option in his contract would not be exercised.
Farrell beat out a long list of candidates to replace outgoing Toronto manager Cito Gaston following an exhaustive and secretive search that included interviews with 18 candidates.
Farrell pitched in 116 major league games, spending time with Cleveland, California and Detroit. He spent five years as assistant coach/pitching and recruiting co-ordinator at Oklahoma State University.
In 2001, Farrell returned to the Indians as director of player development until joining the Red Sox as pitching coach in 2007, a position he held until joining the Blue Jays.
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