John Farrell hired as Toronto Blue Jays new manager
The Toronto Blue Jays’ search for a new manager ended Monday with the announcement of John Farrell as the 12th full-time manager of the franchise.
Farrell spent the past four seasons as the Boston Red Sox pitching coach after spending the previous six as the director of player development with the Cleveland Indians
Farrell will have his work cut out for him in Toronto, which has had a difficult time in the American League East since winning back-to-back World Series in the early 1990s. Last season the team finished
with an 85-77 record, but finished in fourth place in the division.
"There is a lot a work to be done," Farrell said. "Yet the strengths of this ballclub centre around a young pitching staff, a very good starting core and an offence that set records with the home run ball."
He’s never managed a Minor League club let alone a Major League club, but in the eyes of Toronto general manager, Alex Anthoupolas, his background is already good enough to be a full-time manager.
"The biggest thing that stands out is he has a tremendously diverse background," Anthoupolas said. "Factor in his background, his knowledge, his ability to work with players, his ability to put together
a staff -- there is so much that John brings."
Farrell was a pitcher drafted by the Cleveland Indians in 1984. Over his career he compiled a record of 36-46 with a 4.56 ERA in 116 appearances. He worked as an assistant coach at Oklahoma State University
after he retired until he was hired by the Indians in 2001.
The Blue Jays’ club policy is not to reveal the details of contracts for players or staff, and that’s the case again with Farrell.
"I'm a firm believer, from an employee standpoint," Anthopoulos said, "that contract terms [and] length are something that we just don't want to divulge. From our standpoint, it creates potential storylines
that aren't relevant, in a lot of ways."
Toronto’s third-base coach, Brian Butterfield, was a candidate for the position. It was rumoured that he might move to the Baltimore Orioles as team manager if he didn’t get the Toronto manager’s position,
but after speaking with Anthopoulos and Farrell, Butterfield decided to stay with Toronto.
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