THAT SOX!
Sox opening more ‘attractive’
Farrell firing makes Boston more attractive destination than Queens for managerial candidates
Earlier this week, a baseball executive said that the Mets’ managerial search would be affected by the outcome of at least one of the American League division series. Wednesday morning, he was right. John Farrell, whose teams won back-to-back AL East titles, was fired by the Boston Red Sox.
“The Red Sox job immediately becomes the most attractive,” the source said. “They have the team in place to win now, they have the resources to go out and get what they need and they have the farm system to replenish.
“The Red Sox job is the one that will be the most coveted,” the source continued. “It could change who and what jobs are available.”
Farrell’s firing could impact the Mets’ search for a manager to replace Terry Collins because it changes the landscape significantly. With Joe Girardi’s contract up at the end of the Yankees’ run, which continued into the ALCS with a 5-2 win over the Indians Wednesday night, that adds to another attractive destination for managers — though it seems unlikely now that Girardi would not be brought back. It would also not be out of the realm of possibility for the Mets to try and lure Girardi across town, according to a team source.
Either way, the Mets need to find a new manager in a shifting landscape, but with just 30 of the coveted jobs, they should still have their pick of top candidates.
“The Mets job is a coveted gig,” said one agent who represents at least one managerial candidate. “If you are an established manager with managerial experience, I think the Mets and Phillies are more intriguing. The Tigers job would appeal to a first-timer that wants to build something from scratch. Great city. But it’s a project.”
There are now four teams in baseball searching for their next manager.
The Tigers began interviewing to replace Brad Ausmus with Joe McEwing, a name that has come up as a possibility for the Mets, last week. The Phillies are also looking to replace Pete Mackanin, whom they surprisingly let go the last weekend of the season. Each job presents different challenges. “The Red Sox and Yankees jobs (are) still the best for me,” another AL executive said. “Unlimited resources, both teams with strong youth, excellent farm systems, instant chance to win. Yes, high pressure to win, but so what. Isn’t that what competing is all about?
“Phillies job is very intriguing. Good present (minor league) youth, strong system, fairly new leadership, lots of upside. Mets is fourth for me,” he continued. “Still has a decent 25man roster, but leadership at the top concerns me. Tigers job is not intriguing one bit and ranks last. Poor farm system, old roster. It will be five years at least before they can compete.”
The process to find a new Mets manager, which one Mets official described as “wide open” as of this week, began this week with Sandy Alderson expected to reach out to several candidates.
Current Mets hitting coach Kevin Long will get a chance to present the folders full of ideas he has put together over his years as a major-league hitting coach. A’s third base coach Chip Hale and McEwing, the White Sox bench coach, and former White Sox manager Robin Ventura are expected to at least have preliminary talks with the front office before Friday. Houston’s Alex Cora and Dodgers’ Bob Geren, both bench coaches whose current teams have advanced to the championship series, will still be in the mix.
Cora is considered the hottest young candidate in MLB. After a 14-year major-league career, including a stint with the Mets, Cora has been an analyst for ESPN and he was a general manager of a team in his native Puerto Rico. Cora’s ability to communicate easily with Latin American players effectively in their native language makes him one of the first names that pops up whenever there is a managerial opening.
In fact, his name came up immediately after Collins stepped down after the last game of the season and within minutes of the Red Sox announcing Farrell’s firing. The AL executive said that Cora has been considered an up-and-coming manager for years.
“I really like Cora because he is really smart,” the executive said. “He understands all the analytics, good communicator, he’s bilingual. I think he’ll be great.”