BOSTONWhile former Pawtucket manager Torey Lovullo is expected to be named bench coach for new Red Sox manager John Farrell, the status of the Sox 2012 coaches remains undetermined.
Hitting coach Dave Magadan has already departed to take the same position with the Rangers.
We gave all the coaches permission to look around as soon as the season was over, general manager Ben Cherington said. Now that Johns here, well go about the process of filling out the staff and that will include consideration of the current coaches. But we dont have anything to report on that.
All the coaching positions are considered open, Cherington said.
Were looking at them as open, he said. That doesnt mean were closing the door to someone who was here before, but wanted to give John the latitude to have a fresh canvas to work off of. He has been talking to, and will talk to, some of the people who were on the staff this year. Well see where it ends up, but most importantly, hes got to put the staff together that he believes fits the criteria that he talked about.
Getting a staff together is Farrells immediate priority.
They will have different sets of experiences but the fact that they will have the players best interests in their minds and may be their guide will be a criteria that Ill look to include in every guy that's added to the staff, Farrell said. I think it's critical that we work as a unit, that there's the ability to challenge one another and express opinions in that coaches room, in our offices downstairs, but when we go out we will be on the same page and working in one voice.
Boston Red Sox
I wouldnt say were really advanced in the process. Id say weve got a number of names that are candidates for the roles that exist. Still determining coaches that were here last year and will they continue to go forward. So were probably in the third or fourth inning.
While the Sox are in need of continuity at their helm, perhaps no position needs it more than the pitching coach. Whoever Farrell chooses will be the teams fifth in four seasons. And with Farrell himself a former pitching coach, that person needs to know he will have a certain amount of autonomy, Farrell said.
I think with any position stabilitys critical, Farrell said. I think its important to know, or for the pitching coach to know coming in that this isnt going to be a situation, because so much has been brought out with the return here that its not going to be micromanaged. Certainly theres going to be involvement but that person needs the freedom to do his job and do it to the best of his ability. Thats why to me its important to get the most qualified pitching coach available and bring him in here.
Before Farrell was announced as the new Sox manager on Sunday, Cherington and his staff met with Dodgers third-base coach Tim Wallach, Padres special assistant Brad Ausmus, Yankees bench coach Tony Pena, and Orioles third-base coach and former Sox bench coach DeMarlo Hale. Cherington said he did not explore with any of those candidates the possibility of joining the organization in any other capacity.
Havent had that conversation, Cherington said. I talked to the four other candidates on Saturday, expressed my appreciation for allowing us to get to know them. Those are tough phone calls because theyre all good people and they wanted to express an interest in the job and wanted to see through, go through the process. And all four of them are quality people and capable of being a manager someday.