MILWAUKEE — The soap opera that has engulfed the Red Sox has suddenly created this possibility: that Bobby Valentine will be Boston’s next manager.
A person involved in the process described Valentine as “in play” as a serious contender as the Red Sox have turned their attention to candidates with experience.
The sudden emergence of the former Mets manager is yet another shocking turn over an 80-day period in which the Red Sox have devolved from what seemed a model franchise to one now, at the least, giving off the perception of being overwhelmed by infighting and chaos.
Eighty days ago, Boston had the AL’s best record, leading the Yankees by 1 1/2 games and — just in case — leading the Rays by nine games for the wild card. On Aug. 30, they were opening a three-game series in Fenway against the Yankees and Tampa Bay officials will admit privately now that they were rooting like heck for Boston to sweep.
After all, they figured the team with the greater vulnerability and chance to collapse was, by far, the Yankees.
But, instead of going for their third title in eight years, the Red Sox finished 8-21 to produce the greatest collapse in regular-season history, failing to even win the wild card. Manager Terry Francona left amid unflattering leaks about his personal life. Revelations emerged that key pitchers were eating fried chicken and drinking beer in the clubhouse during games. General manager Theo Epstein grew so disenchanted at working in what was believed to be his dream job, he left to become the Cubs’ president.
And if the acrimony of that departure already was not at the nasty, spiteful level (the Cubs and Red Sox are still bickering about compensation), it worsened yesterday when the Cubs named Dale Sveum manager. Sveum was the only person Boston interviewed twice for its managerial opening.
This is just the headline stuff. Talk to major league officials from other teams and they speak of the discord and disenchantment they are hearing about from inside the organization. The departure of Epstein has created a public sense of leadership disarray with owners John Henry and Tom Werner distracted by other ventures and powerful team president Larry Lucchino undercutting the authority of new GM Ben Cherington.
Multiple executives said Sveum was Cherington’s managerial choice, but Lucchino squelched that move. Cherington denied that was the case, saying “absolutely not. I don’t know where that comes from.” He insisted the organization simply was not ready to move forward with Sveum at a time when the Cubs were.
Cherington acknowledged the way the season ended has forged “speculation” about disorder in the front office that “I don’t think is correct.”
But at a time when the Red Sox want to move on with a sense of unity and competence, they are projecting quite the opposite picture. A rival AL executive described the team as at “a crossroads.” Lucchino has indicated the team may now value previous managerial experience in its search — something not emphasized as weeks have been chewed up trying to replace Francona, a manager with vast experience.
That is where Valentine enters, which also indicates Lucchino being the main decision-maker since he is known to be a long-time admirer of Valentine.
Can it work with Valentine — or another veteran manager — being hired this late in the process?
Well, Boston did not hire Francona until Dec. 4, 2003 and as history shows that worked out quite well.
And I cannot remember an offseason in which a franchise seemed more scattershot and fractured than the Yankees between the 1995-96 seasons and, of course, they began a dynasty in 1996 — behind a manager who entered in quite an unpopular state, by the name of Joe Torre. Maybe Valentine can be the Red Sox’s Torre.
It is possible this is just an aggravating phase for the Red Sox that will be forgotten when their deep talent begins winning in April.
Nevertheless, at this moment, the Red Sox seem as consumed by the personal dislike between Lucchino and Epstein as actually solving problems moving forward.
It is incredible what can happen in 80 days.
Cashman not willing to break bank in offseason
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has done his first lap around the available high-end starting pitchers and, well, he is hoping the prices drop in time for Christmas.
“I’d like to do something, but I am not going to do something at the current costs,” Cashman said.
If you want a symbol of how unenthusiastic the Yankees are about the requests for top-flight rotation help consider this: C.J. Wilson’s agent requested a New York visit for his client on Tuesday and was told “we’ll get back to you.” And Wilson is the top starter talent on the Yankees’ free-agent board.
But why go through the charade of a meet-and-greet, the Yankees figure, if one side is trying to sell a mansion and the other is trying to buy a nice condo? The Yankees wonder if this is just a ploy by the Wilson camp to create the image that the Yankees are fixating on the lefty as a way to motivate other suitors such as the Rangers, Angels, Nationals and Marlins to intensify their efforts.
The Yankees looked into Matt Garza, but a Cubs official said, “it is very, very unlikely” that the righty will be traded. When I asked Oakland GM Billy Beane about the availability of Trevor Cahill and Gio Gonzalez, he said, “In our situation, we are open to anything.”
However, teams that have inquired (the Yankees particularly like Gonzalez) have been told Oakland wants an ace return for either.
The same is being said about John Danks
, who is very available from the suddenly rebuilding White Sox in part because he is entering his walk year.
The Yankees like Danks, but don’t want to pay ace prices because they: a) don’t view Danks as that level of starter and b) don’t want to pay in that way for a player they would control for just one year.
The White Sox, though, do like many players in the Yankees farm system and have always had a particular fondness for catcher Austin Romine.
* The Rockies and Mets briefly discussed trade possibilities involving Mike Pelfrey and Huston Street. But the Mets hardly seemed excited about Street.
The Mets’ new bench coach, Bob Geren, managed the closer in Oakland, and the two did not get along to the point that last May, Street told the San Francisco Chronicle Geren was “my least favorite person I have ever encountered in sports.”
* Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria insisted the organization’s bold move to make offers to a series of huge free agents, including nine years for Albert Pujols and six years for Jose Reyes, was not a publicity stunt designed to help sell tickets in a new stadium, but rather a reflection of how attractive the new stadium was to players.
But to sign Reyes, Miami would have to move current shortstop, Hanley Ramirez, to a different position, perhaps third base. There have been reports Ramirez is balking at such a transition.
However, Loria called Ramirez “a good team man” and added he believed Ramirez would switch positions “if the situation warranted.”