John Farrell, who guided the Toronto Blue Jays for the past two Major League Baseball seasons, was named the new manager of the Boston Red Sox on Sunday.
Farrell, a former Red Sox pitching coach, went 154-170 in two seasons with the Canadian club, including a 73-89 mark this year to finish fourth in the American League East division — one spot ahead of the dismal Red Sox at 69-93.
The Red Sox fired Bobby Valentine as manager after a single season, the team’s worst record in nearly half a century, and inked a three-year deal with Farrell.
“John has been a major league pitcher, front office executive, coach, and manager. His broad set of experiences, and exceptional leadership skills, make him the ideal person to lead our team,” Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington said.
Farrell, 50, pitched during eight major league seasons from 1987-1996 for the Cleveland Indians, California Angels and Detroit Tigers. He was Boston’s pitching coach from 2007 through 2010.
“I’m extremely excited to be returning to the Red Sox and to Boston,” said Farrell. “It’s a great franchise in a special city and region with great fans and we want nothing more than to reward their faith in us.”
The Red Sox sent shortstop Mike Aviles to Toronto as compensation for signing Farrell and received right-handed pitcher David Carpenter in return.
Red Sox name Farrell as new manager
