Could Red Sox go for Joe Maddon?
Aug 31, 2014; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox manager
John Farrell(53) looks on during the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
While nobody can be too angry about the work John Farrell has done for the Red Sox of late (remember, we did win the World Series last fall), the recent availability of Joe Maddon has brought up a few questions. As Tony Massarotti of CBS Boston pointed out, taking a look at the former Tampa Bay skipper may not be such a bad idea after all.
Maddon, who recently opted out of his deal with the Rays, has been one of the most highly-touted managers of late. There’s no doubting that the man can run a ball club as well as the next guy. The question is, should the Red Sox sacrifice Farrell for Maddon (and would that even be an option)?
Okay, enough teasing. The answer is no. N-O. NO. While the idea may at first seem exciting (I understand, I get excited when people talk about the Red Sox signing anybody), after some thought, it’s not hard to see that the idea is a bit far-fetched.
Why dump John Farrell? Put this season’s record aside for a moment. THE GUY WON US A WORLD SERIES LAST YEAR. A WORLD SERIES. WORST TO FIRST, REMEMBER?
Okay, now that that’s out, the idea just doesn’t work out. While there’s no doubt that Maddon is a great manager, he also comes with a big price tag. He’s also never won a World Series, and the Rays’ $80 million roster (a team record) this year came in fourth.
Plus, Farrell has been a great fit for the Red Sox. He knows the team, he knows the organization, and of course, he knows the game.
"“Joe Maddon is an excellent manager. But we are extremely happy with John [Farrell]. Expect him to be here for a long while,” wrote Red Sox primary owner John Henry in a text, per The Boston Globe."
Don’t underestimate those words. It’s not one of those “We like Farrell, so we haven’t discussed the idea” situations with a big, guilty, contradicting grin. It’s a definite no. It won’t happen, and there’s no reason it should.