Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos comments on John Farrell deal

AA dishes on moving his manager and how the deal went down.

Red Sox talks with Blue Jays manager John Farrell heating up

Talk of compensation has moved past preliminary negotiations.

Red Sox still in pursuit of Blue Jays manager John Farrell

Despite several rebukes from the Toronto Blue Jays organization, the Boston Red Sox are still pursuing a compromise that will allow them to acquire their former pitching coach John Farrell as manager, reports Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe:

Ben Cherington has nobodyscheduled to interview after Demarlo Hale tomorrow. The Sox trying to work out compensation for John Farrell.

— Nick Cafardo (@nickcafardo) October 17, 2012

Farrell has long been speculated to be Boston's top choice to fill the managerial vacancy, but the Blue Jays have not budged from their stance that he is unavailable. Toronto even created an organization rule last season when the Red Sox pursued Farrell the first time that all coaches under contract are not allowed to interview for other positions.

Ben Cherington and the Red Sox brass are still hopeful that they can come to an agreement to get Farrell out of the final year of his contract with the Blue Jays by offering the team player compensation. Earlier reports speculated that compensation for Farrell would likely be a "decent player", but as the time wears on it is likely the price will get steeper.

Red Sox interview Tony Pena, DeMarlo Hale

Interviews for Boston's manager job continued Monday with Pena and Hale.

Red Sox to interview Brad Ausmus next week

The former All-Star catcher is the second interview candidate announced, joining Tim Wallach.

Red Sox will interview Tim Wallach for manager spot

The Dodgers' third base coach will interview later this week.

Blue Jays will not let John Farrell go to Boston, for now...

Toronto brass says it has no intention of letting John Farrell join the Red Sox.

Farrell will come at steep cost to Red Sox

The Red Sox may have to pay a steep cost -- likely a "decent player" -- if they want to pull pitching coach John Farrell away from the Blue Jays to manage in Boston next season, a source has told Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald:

If the Red Sox [team stats] really want John Farrell to be their next manager, it’s going to cost them...

[A] major league source said yesterday that team president Paul Beeston would demand compensation for allowing Farrell out of the final year of his contract, especially to join an AL East rival.

While which players would fit the moniker "decent" in the eyes of the Blue Jays is not known, the asking price is not expected to be anything extraordinary.

Receiving a player for a manager who is under contract for with team is not without precedent. The Marlins traded two mid-level prospects to the White Sox last year for Ozzie Guillen's services, and the Tampa Bay Rays traded Randy Winn to the Mariners in 2002 in order to have Lou Pinella at the helm in St. Petersburg.

The Red Sox have yet to officially contact Farrell regarding their open manager position, but he is speculated to be the top candidate for the job. Farrell worked for four years in the Red Sox organization as their pitching coach before leaving to manage in Toronto.

Red Sox Managerial Search: John Farrell, Brad Ausmus

The Boston Red Sox officially cut ties with manager Bobby Valentine yesterday, following a disappointing 2012 campaign. Boston’s attention now turns to who their next skipper will be, and one popular name has been current Toronto Blue Jays manager John Farrell. While the Blue Jays decided to not part ways with Farrell last offseason, they aren’t expected to stand in the Red Sox way this time around, reports Bob Nightengale of USA Today:

While Farrell is the name most-tied to the Red Sox, Matthew Pouliot of Hardball Talk discussed the possibility of former Houston Astros catcher Brad Ausmus becoming Boston’s next manager.

Pouliot admitted that it was purely speculation, but did bring up the fact that Ausmus bowed out of contention for the Astros’ managerial opening last month. Pouliot’s theory is that Ausmus’ removal from the running could have been the result of the Red Sox letting the native New Englander know that they expected to have an opening.

Red Sox brass discuss Valentine's dismissal

Boston Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington and team president Larry Lucchino discussed with the media Thursday afternoon their decision to fire first-year manager Bobby Valentine, reports Alex Speier of WEEI:

"Look at the final record and our place in the standings. That speaks for itself. Beyond that, we’re not going to get into this issue or that issue, this grievance or that grievance. We don’t necessarily feel that’s necessary or appropriate to do any of that. As Ben said, we pressed a reset button," said Lucchino.

"We’re not going to get into what he did right and what he did wrong. We’re not going to go into that dissection of the year. We felt change was a better way to go forward and lead us where we want to be as a franchise."

Cherington added that the disappointment of the 2012 season could not be placed entirely on Valentine's shoulders, but that there were a variety of contributing factors to the team's slide, of which Cherington included himself.

So far as beginning the search for a new manager, Cherington and Lucchino said they do not yet has a list of candidates to take over the position, but that their priorities for what they are looking for have changed.

"I’m not sure the list [of traits being sought] is any longer. It might be a little different, again, because the team is in a little different position," said Cherington. "We’ll start that work more in earnest now."

Red Sox fire Bobby Valentine

The Red Sox have officially announced the firing of Bobby Valentine.

Red Sox plan to fire Bobby Valentine

The season from hell finally at an end, Boston intends to part ways with Valentine.