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According to multiple reports out of the nation’s capital today, former Boston Red Sox’ skipper John Farrell visited with the Washington Nationals today as they search for the next Nats’ manager. Farrell joins a list of potential candidates that reportedly includes the Chicago Cubs’ bench coach Dave Martinez, the New York Mets’ hitting coach Kevin Long, and ... [checks]... nope, no Joe Girardi rumors yet.
Farrell, 55, managed the Toronto Blue Jays for two seasons (2011-2012) and spent five years on the bench in Boston, leading the Red Sox to a World Series win in 2013 in his first season with the Sox, and back-to-back ALDS losses in each of the last two seasons.
Ken Rosenthal, of The Athletic, was first with the report this morning on Farrell visiting with the Nationals today:
#Nationals interviewed John Farrell today, sources tell The Athletic. Dave Martinez front-runner for job, per sources and @jorgecastillo.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) October 27, 2017
Multiple reports since have confirmed that the veteran manager was in D.C. to meet with the Nationals:
#Nats interviewed John Farrell today, source confirms (1st reported @Ken_Rosenthal). Came on heels of Dave Martinez interview yesterday.
— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) October 27, 2017
Nats and John Farrell: in this morning, out this afternoon. Came from Philly after discussing job there.
— Barry Svrluga (@barrysvrluga) October 27, 2017
Farrell was fired after the Red Sox loss to the Houston Astros in the ALDS with Boston’s president Dave Dombrowski explaining, as quoted by SI.com’s John Tayler, it was time for a change.
“I think sometimes change can be better, and that’s why we decided to move forward with this change.”
Farrell departed after a tumultuous season in Boston which, as the SI.com writer noted, saw the Sox get into an ugly on-field feud with the Baltimore Orioles; saw David Price get into it with the media, and NESN broadcaster David Eckersley; and saw the Red Sox get involved in a sign-stealing drama involving the New York Yankees that led to fines handed down by Major League Baseball.
Farrell reportedly visited with the Nationals a day after Dave Martinez visited with Washington to interview for the job.
While there was plenty of speculation yesterday that now-former New York Yankees’ skipper Joe Girardi might make sense in the nation’s capital now that he’s done in NY, there were also multiple reports today that said there’s nothing happening there yet.
initial word hearing out of DC is that girardi is "not likely." for one, nats don't believe in paying big bucks to manager.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) October 27, 2017
As of this morning, #Nats had not yet contacted Joe Girardi, per source. Still early, of course, so doesn't mean they won't.
— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) October 27, 2017
Washington Post writer Chelsea Janes, in reporting on Farrell visiting with the Nats, wrote this afternoon that the Nationals might actually consider longer offers than they’ve been willing to make in the past with the current market for managers.
Citing “people familiar with their thinking”, Janes wrote that, “... Nationals ownership might be willing to provide a longer deal to their next manager, in part because of the state of the market,” which has seen rookie manager Alex Cora, who signed with the Red Sox, and veteran skipper Ron Gardenhire, who joined the Detroit Tigers, both get three-year deals.
Dusty Baker, whose two-year deal expired after the 2017 campaign came to an end with the second consecutive NLDS loss for the Nationals, signed a 2-year/$4M deal with Washington before the 2016 season.