Indians' First Choice for New Manager to Stay with Red Sox Next Season

At least for next season, John Farrell will stay as the pitching coach of the Boston Red Sox:

Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell, considered the frontrunner for the Indians’ managerial job since Eric Wedge was fired, has told the Red Sox he’s staying, sources confirm.

More on the idea that Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell will be Eric Wedge’s replacement in Cleveland, from the Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo:

Sox pitching coach John Farrell will again be mentioned prominently even with reports that his contract contains language which prohibits him from managing until the 2011 season, a clause first reported by Foxsports.com.

Farrell could end the talk by saying he will honor his Red Sox contract for 2010.

However, as we reported earlier this week and according to one league official, “All it (clause) does is create a compensation opportunity for the Red Sox.”

Farrell has been very loyal to the Red Sox and reportedly agreed to have this clause included in his revamped deal which makes him, according to one industry source the “highest-paid or tied with the highest paid”) pitching coach in baseball (with St. Louis’ Dave Duncan). Farrell is likely to stay.

ESPN is reporting that the Indians might be turning their eyes to Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell, a marriage that would make sense for both sides. From Amy K. Nelson:

John Farrell makes it clear he wants to some day manage. But Boston’s pitching coach said that the focus right now should be on the team and not a recent report that said a clause in his contract would keep him from getting the Cleveland Indians job if Eric Wedge is fired.

Farrell, who was the director for player development for the Indians before coming to Boston and lives in Cleveland in the offseason, would not confirm a Foxsports.com report that said a clause in his contract prevents him from taking a managing job before 2011. […]

Farrell did say, however, that no team has asked the Red Sox for official permission to talk to him about any potential openings. He also added that he didn’t want any focus to be on him. ESPN’s Buster Olney wrote recently in his blog that the Red Sox would give Farrell permission to talk to other teams if asked.

Though it’s unclear whether the clause even exists, you’d have to think that Olney’s report is accurate: the Sox wouldn’t prevent a loyal employee like Farrell from fulfilling his dream. Still, with the Sox primed for a playoff run, will the Indians have the patience to wait and find out whether Boston will even let Farrell talk to them?

From MLB.com’s Castroturf:

Wedge and his entire coaching staff have been dismissed. A press conference is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. ET today at Progressive Field to announce the moves.

It is my understanding that Wedge has known about the move for several days, while the coaches — including hitting coach Derek Shelton, pitching coach Carl Willis, bullpen coach Chuck Hernandez, first-base coach Luis Rivera and third-base coach Joel Skinner — were informed following Tuesday’s rainout.

Apparently, the staff will remain with the team for the last six games. Which still doesn’t explain why the team wouldn’t just wait until the end of the week to announce this.