The Boston Red Sox had five main contenders for the manager position, which was left vacant after the resignation of Terry Francona. Mike Maddux took himself out of the running before the interview process began. Torey Lovullo, Gene Lamont and Sandy Alomar Jr. have all been in previous discussions and have been interviewed for the job. Dale Sveum, who was considered the front-runner, had two interviews and did not receive an offer. Sveum has since been hired as the Chicago Cubs new manager.
Lovullo is familiar with the Red Sox system. He managed the Triple-A Pawtucket team in 2010. He now serves as the Toronto Blue Jays first base coach for the Blue Jays manager John Farrell, who was Boston’s pitching coach from 2006 to 2010.
Lamont is a former catcher for the Detroit Tigers. He spent all five of his Major League season with the Tigers and is now their third base coach. He has previous managerial experience with the Chicago White Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates. Lamont managed the White Sox from 1992 to 1995 and the Pirates from 1997 to 2000, recording 258 wins and 210 losses as a big-league manager.
Alomar retired, after a 20-year playing career, just four years ago. The six-time All-Star catcher has been an instructor for the New York Mets and Cleveland Indians. He served as the Indians bench coach last year.
Recently a new potential candidate has joined the group. The former manager of the Texas Rangers, Mets and the Ciba Lotte Marines of the Japanese Pacific League, Bobby Valentine is being considered for Boston’s managerial position. Valentine hasn’t coached a Major League team since 2002 and joined the ESPN broadcast team after his second coaching stint in Japan ended in 2009. Speculation of Valentine’s candidacy grew over recent weeks as rumors surfaced of initial phone conversations between Valentine and the team’s management. Official talks were on hold until GM Ben Cherington returned from the Dominican Republic. A meeting is scheduled for Monday in Boston.
While the Red Sox have been interviewing and debating candidates, the Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals hired new managers and the free agent signing period has begun. Boston has already lost Jonathan Papelbon. Four more of their World Series winners are on the free agent market, along with quality replacements. The Red Sox hoped to make a decision and hire before Thanksgiving, but that now seems unlikely. In an important offseason for the team, they are falling behind schedule.
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