Red Sox: Candidates to replace Ron Roenicke as manager
Exploring the potential candidates for the next Red Sox manager.
The Boston Red Sox will have a new manager next year. The club announced prior to Sunday’s season finale that Ron Roenicke will not be returning in 2021, ending his tenure as the team’s manager after one abbreviated season.
Roenicke served as the bench coach for Alex Cora but was elevated to the manager’s seat when his predecessor was suspended for his role in the Houston Astros sign-stealing investigation and later parted ways with the organization.
It felt from the start that Roenicke was a temporary solution, even after the interim tag was removed from his title last spring. Roenicke was put in an impossible situation, inheriting a team that traded away the face of the franchise and a starting rotation that crumbled with the loss of their top pitchers. The outcome of this miserable season can’t be blamed on Roenicke but it’s easier to move on from a manager following a last-place finish.
The writing was on the wall for Roenicke with the team expected to go in one of two directions. Either the plan all along has been to welcome Cora back once his suspension is lifted or chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom will look for a fresh start with a candidate of his own choosing.
Let’s break down the leading candidates who the Red Sox should consider, starting with the obvious option of Cora.
Should the Red Sox bring back Cora?
There are some who view Cora as a controversial choice due to his ties to the scandal in Houston. While I understand the reluctance to hire a manager with that kind of baggage, I disagree with the notion that it should stop the Red Sox from considering Cora. Since his suspension was handed down, we’ve learned that Cora wasn’t the mastermind of the operation that he was made out to be. This was a systemic plan deeply rooted in the Astros organization. Cora was merely a cog in the machine and there’s no evidence that he brought that culture with him to Boston.
Cora has proven that he can handle the pressure of managing in Boston. He’s already brought this team a championship in a season in which they posted the best record in franchise history. The players in this clubhouse respect Cora and would be thrilled to have him back. The Red Sox ownership group has made it clear how much they adore him and their admiration for Cora should outweigh the risks of any PR fires that a reunion might set off.
The Red Sox aren’t allowed to speak with Cora until his suspension ends at the conclusion of this year’s World Series. It will be interesting to see how long it takes the front office to conduct their search. If the process drags on into November when Cora is eligible to be reinstated, the whispers about his return will grow louder.
Familiar faces for Red Sox to consider
If Bloom goes in another direction to find his own candidate that separates him from the previous regime, there are several appealing options who could be available.
Jason Varitek will naturally emerge as a popular choice among fans. The long-time Red Sox catcher has served as a special adviser for the team since 2012 and he moved into an on-field coaching role with the catchers and pitchers a couple of years ago. He has no other coaching experience but Varitek has a brilliant baseball mind that many believe makes him an ideal fit as a manager.
While many fans would be excited about Varitek being selected, I don’t view it as a realistic option. Varitek has been lukewarm about accepting a managerial position that would take him away from his family. Even if he’s changed his mind, a team that intends to contend in the near future needs a leader with more experience. Varitek should be groomed as a minor league manager or bench coach before he gets considered for the position of Red Sox manager.
If Varitek failed due to his lack of experience it would put the organization in a tough position. Fans who adore him for what he did in his career might be left with bitter resentment that tarnishes his reputation in Boston. The front office might be hesitant to fire a manager who is so popular with the fan base even if his performance warranted his removal. Varitek has the ability to be a manager some day but hiring the fan-favorite before he’s ready would be a mistake.
If the Red Sox want to bring back a former player, Mark Kotsay would be a leading candidate. He spent time in the outfield and first base for the Red Sox from 2008-09. Kotsay was the hitting coach for the San Diego Padres before joining the Oakland A’s where he served as the bench coach and a quality control coach. He was considered for the managerial position with the Giants and Pirates last winter.
Former Red Sox infielder Mark Loretta is another option with ties to this organization. He served as a special assistant for the Padres before he was hired as Joe Maddon’s bench coach with the Chicago Cubs in 2019. Loretta interviewed for the managerial position when the Cubs let Maddon go but Chicago ultimately hired David Ross.
If the Red Sox look outside the organization
Sam Fuld never played in Boston but he’s a New Hampshire native who might be drawn back to New England. He’s currently serving as the Major League Player Information Coordinator for the Philadelphia Phillies. His job is to provide recommendations to players based on analytics, a skill set that might appeal to a Red Sox organization that values this data. Fuld’s name popped up in connection to several vacant managerial spots last year and should be considered an option for teams to consider this winter.
Bloom’s connection to the Rays organization has led to speculation that he might try to pry Kevin Cash out of Tampa Bay but that seems unlikely since he’s under contract through 2024. The Rays are a contender that has no reason to want to part with their successful manager.
Instead, the Red Sox could target Rays bench coach Matt Quatraro. Bloom is familiar with Quatraro, who was as minor league hitting coach for the Rays from 2010-13. After a stint in Cleveland as an assistant hitting coach, Quatraro returned to the Rays as a third base coach in 2017 and was promoted to bench coach last year. Quatraro is viewed as a promising candidate who was a finalist for the job with the Phillies and Pirates last offseason.
Hensley Meulens has a connection to Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts from his time managing the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic. It couldn’t hurt to hire a manager who already has a relationship with your star player. Meulens won three World Series rings as hitting coach for the Giants before the Mets hired him as their bench coach this year.
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More names will begin to emerge as we get further into the offseason. The list could grow to include some with managerial experience if other clubs part ways with their current manager who could be looking for a fresh start. If Boston values that experience, they might be willing to wait to see who hits the market. Of course, waiting also keeps the door open for a potential Cora return. The Red Sox should be one of the top destinations for candidates looking for a managerial position so they should have plenty of options.