Report: Red Sox, Farrell 'were very close' - Sportsnet

[MGD24]

I know it has been talked about a lot for a bit now, but here is a new report with "newer" info from Sportsnet and Buster Olney

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/2012/08/27/john_farrell_boston_red_sox_future_olney_report/

According to ESPN's Buster Olney, Farrell is the name to watch this off-season in Boston after the Toronto Blue Jays manager came close to joining his former team last fall.

"The Red Sox actually thought they were going to get him last fall," Olney said on ESPN's Mike & Mike Monday morning. "They got very close, but the Blue Jays pulled back. I think Toronto will go to John Farrell - whose contract expires at the end of next year - and ask him, 'look, do you want to stay here?'

"If he says no, it would make sense for the Jays to go to the Red Sox and make a trade. Maybe a John Farrell for Daniel Bard type thing."

[Gibby]

I know bard didn't have the best season but I would do that trade in a heartbeat, and if Farrell is even thinking of joining the red sox, i'd trade him for a paper bag

[dagger]

Who is the Red Sox best prospect? E other that or send Lind with Farrell to Boston

[Wally West]

If I'm trading John Farrell to the Red Sox, I better be getting Matt Barnes (Boston's best pitching prospect and Baseball America Midseason top 50 prospects) in that deal.

[Wo1verine]

I'd persnally send him for a bag of balls! Seriously though Boston obviously over values Farrell more than anybody in the the league, so why not try and cash in on his value? I'd take just about anything for him.

[Wo1verine]

Who is the Red Sox best prospect? E other that or send Lind with Farrell to Boston

Interesting idea! they would probably take Lind too, haha!

[Michael Bradley]

If this is true, thank you Boston.

Farrell has been a disaster here and it is better to cut bait early rather than late. As long as they don't replace him with Don Wakamatsu, I'll be fine with it. Maybe go with Francona if he wants to manage again. Or, preferably, just raid the freakin' Tampa Bay Rays organization of all their coaches and medical staff.

[Fairview4Life]

That the Jays could actually trade Farrell for more than a bag of balls, and conceivably Daniel Bard or a decent prospect is confusing to me.

[baulderdash77]

Daniel Bard would be good comp for JF. I wouldn't want to trade Adam Lind though. As soon as he gets out of Murphy's coaching grasp he would mash. I wouldn't want to see that 18 times a season.

[Randle McMurphy]

I don't know why exactly the Sox are so enamoured with the idea of Farrell returning, but I really do hope the Jays take advantage of that.

Managers usually get fired after seasons like this, not traded for actual assets to other teams.

[baulderdash77]

JF hasn't exactly done a masterful job or anything this season. I think we could be 2-3 games better with some of the mistakes he's made. That being said, he's not the reason the team has cratered. I've never really seen a season with the kind of injuries that we've had. It really has been remarkable and cruel to be with the Jays this season.

[J-Roc]

If this guy has any value at all, you take advantage of it. I guess though AA would have to play it tight and pretend this would be a tough decision.

[Geddy]

I hope AA doesn't see this as Farrell being in demand due to being a good manager. If there is any opportunity to get something back then by all means let him go.

[tiger7]

Farrell asnicea guy as he is well he's terrible and that's being kind. Get something of value for him and cut your losses.

[Schad]

I'd be happy just to have someone relieve us of the responsibility to pay him/watch him manage. But to actually trade something for him? The **** are we waiting for!

[Al_Oliver]

I'd be happy just to have someone relieve us of the responsibility to pay him/watch him manage. But to actually trade something for him? The **** are we waiting for!

truer words have not been spoken...

[Al_Oliver]

I'd be happy just to have someone relieve us of the responsibility to pay him/watch him manage. But to actually trade something for him? The **** are we waiting for!

truer words have not been spoken...

[Ado05]

Get something good for him, then make Butterfield our manager.

[BigLeagueChew]

Get something good for him, then make Butterfield our manager.

i don't think Butterfield would be a good manager, his strengths are infield work mostly.

[BigLeagueChew]

Davidi article on the Farrell situation

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/2012/08/27/john_farrell_red_sox_rumours_blue_jays/

The persistent nature of the Farrell speculation hints at some level of Boston origin, and given the Red Sox’s managerial mess with Bobby Valentine and the belief that Farrell had long been pegged as Terry Francona’s successor, they have nothing to lose by anonymously floating some bait.

At best, it works out and they get their man, at worst they cause a divisional rival some irritation, knowing that unless GM Alex Anthopoulos suddenly changes course, the Blue Jays will say nothing publicly about Farrell until the day he stops serving as manager.

Anthopoulos has said even if the Blue Jays sign Farrell to an extension it will not be announced, an attempt to keep the truth about his contract status private and out of the news.