Updated: Red Sox managerial candidates

October, 16, 2012
10/16/12
12:18
PM ET
By Gordon Edes | ESPNBoston.com
The Red Sox have begun their search for a new manager, having already interviewed two candidates: Dodgers third base coach Tim Wallach and Yankees bench coach Tony Pena. Padres special assistant Brad Ausmus is up next to interview Wednesday, followed by Orioles third base coach DeMarlo Hale on Thursday. Below are profiles of those candidates, plus others the Sox should consider. Blue Jays manager John Farrell is still the favorite, but it's still unclear whether the Jays will let him go.

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CANDIDATE BACKGROUND
John
Farrell		 CURRENT JOB: TORONTO BLUE JAYS MANAGER
By all indications, the Red Sox want him, he wants the Red Sox -- and the Blue Jays want no part of allowing that to happen. Farrell projects as the ideal candidate for a number of reasons: He would work well with the team's baseball operations staff; he is highly respected by leaders in the clubhouse; he has prior relationships with the pitching staff and is well-qualified to tackle that reclamation project; and he is familiar with the challenges particular to managing in the Boston market. (Update: Farrell is "at the top" of the Red Sox's managerial wish list, according to a baseball source. The team intends to ask the Blue Jays for permission to speak with him about the job, the source said. A different source said that as of Monday, Oct. 15, Farrell had not heard anything from the Red Sox.)

Tim
Wallach		 CURRENT JOB: LOS ANGELES DODGERS THIRD-BASE COACH
Wallach, 55, is a former five-time All-Star third baseman who managed the Dodgers' Triple-A team in Albuquerque for two seasons in between stints as Los Angeles' hitting coach and third-base coach. Wallach guided Albuquerque to a franchise-record 80 wins in 2009, and was named the Pacific Coast League's manager of the year. He interviewed for the Red Sox job on Friday, Oct. 12. "I don't think they would have brought me here unless they were serious," he said. "But I understand the process that has to be gone through. I honestly believe they wouldn't waste their time."
Tony
Pena		 CURRENT JOB: NEW YORK YANKEES BENCH COACH
The 55-year-old former catcher played 18 seasons in the majors, including four in Boston, and managed the Kansas City Royals from 2002-2005. In 2003, he was named AL Manager of the Year. He resigned midway through the 2005 season after his team started 8-25. Pena joined the Yankees' staff in 2006 and interviewed for their managerial opening after Joe Torre's departure. The team named Joe Girardi as skipper, and Pena has been on his staff since, serving as first-base coach and in his current role as bench coach. He interviewed for the Sox job on Monday, Oct. 15.
Brad
Ausmus		 CURRENT JOB: SAN DIEGO PADRES SPECIAL ASSISTANT
Native New Englander (New Haven, Conn.), Dartmouth man, a big league catcher for 18 seasons, Ausmus is an intriguing outside-the-box candidate. He manages Israel's entry in the World Baseball Classic. He'll be interviewed by the Sox for the job on Wednesday.
DeMarlo
Hale		 CURRENT JOB: BALTIMORE ORIOLES THIRD-BASE COACH
The Red Sox didn't interview him last year, perhaps because the former Boston bench coach was too closely associated with Francona and the September 2011 debacle. But the Tito years look like the good old days by comparison to the current mess, and Hale, with minor league managing experience and big league time with three franchises (Rangers, Red Sox, Orioles) has all of the right boxes checked off on his dance card. He will interview for the Red Sox job on Thursday, Oct. 18.
Mike
Maddux		 CURRENT JOB: TEXAS RANGERS PITCHING COACH
He declined to be interviewed last year, citing family reasons, but given the importance of getting their pitching staff back on track, the Red Sox should make another run at him.
Dave
Martinez		 CURRENT JOB: TAMPA BAY RAYS BENCH COACH
The Joe Maddon Way certainly has proven to be successful in Tampa Bay, and Maddon delegates a great deal of responsibility to Martinez, who wins high marks for his communication skills with players, especially on delicate issues. Was a finalist for the Houston Astros job.
Sandy
Alomar Jr.		 CURRENT JOB: CLEVELAND INDIANS BENCH COACH
The former big league catcher served as Manny Acta's bench coach with the Indians until Acta was fired this month, and was a candidate to replace Acta, ultimately losing out to former Red Sox manager Terry Francona. Alomar was interviewed for the Red Sox job last season, but did not make the final cut.
Mike
Lowell		 CURRENT JOB: MLB NETWORK ANALYST
Another outside-the-box candidate, Lowell stated a desire to spend more time with his family in Miami after retiring from the Red Sox in 2010. Lowell enjoyed tremendous respect in the Sox's clubhouse and was a fan favorite. He also is bilingual, which is a great asset, but as Kevin Millar said last week, "He might be too rich to manage." Lowell's name also has surfaced as a potential candidate in Miami if the Marlins fire Ozzie Guillen. (Update: Lowell has since indicated he does not want a managerial job.)
Joey
Cora		 CURRENT JOB: MIAMI MARLINS BENCH COACH
The Red Sox saw firsthand how the Cora family approaches the game in infielder Alex, and Joey patiently has been learning his craft under Guillen, both the dos and don'ts. He has waited long enough for a chance.
Bill
Mueller		 CURRENT JOB: LOS ANGELES DODGERS SPECIAL ASSISTANT
The former Red Sox third baseman is highly regarded by the Dodgers, who would hate to lose him. It's uncertain whether he'd want to return to the dugout. No managerial or coaching experience.
Torey
Lovullo		 CURRENT JOB: TORONTO BLUE JAYS FIRST-BASE COACH
Spent the past two seasons on Farrell's coaching staff after several successful years managing in the minors, including one season in Triple-A Pawtucket. Young and energetic, with an appreciation for statistical analysis that the Sox value, Lovullo might get the chance that Farrell figures to be denied.
Ryne
Sandberg		 CURRENT JOB: PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES THIRD-BASE COACH
The Hall of Fame player was passed over last year by both the Red Sox and Chicago Cubs in their searches, even though he was named minor league manager of the year by Baseball America in 2011 for the job he did with the Phillies' Triple-A team, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Makes you think that the Sox feel there's something missing. The Phillies on Thursday promoted him to be their third-base coach.
Joe
McEwing		 CURRENT JOB: CHICAGO WHITE SOX THIRD-BASE COACH
Coincidentally, "Super Joe" was one of Valentine's favorite players when he was a reserve on the New York Mets. McEwing's playing career ended with Pawtucket in 2007, he became a minor league hitting coach a year later, and a manager in 2009. He served as Robin Ventura's third-base coach in Chicago this season. He's only 40.
Jose
Oquendo		 CURRENT JOB: ST. LOUIS CARDINALS THIRD-BASE COACH
Trained under Tony La Russa, but was passed over by the Cardinals when La Russa retired. Also has interviewed for jobs with the Padres, Mariners and Mets.
Tim
Bogar		 CURRENT JOB: BOSTON RED SOX BENCH COACH
Also mentored by Maddon and a student of stats-based analytics, Bogar had a strained relationship with Valentine this season, which might affect his chances. Interviewed for the Houston Astros' managing job.

Gordon Edes

Red Sox reporter, ESPNBoston.com
  • Has covered Red Sox for 15 years
  • Award-winning beat reporter
  • Joined ESPNBoston.com in 2009
Tags:

Boston Red Sox, Bobby Valentine

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Gordon Edes
Gordon Edes

Gordon Edes, who joined ESPNBoston.com in Nov. 2009, has covered MLB for more than 25 years. He spent 12 years covering the Sox for the Globe. Ask a question for his next mailbag. Follow him on Twitter here.

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