UPDATE: The Boston Red Sox have announced John Farrell will return as the team's manager in 2016, writes Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com.
#RedSox announce Major League Field Staff Updates. pic.twitter.com/0u4vkxxQRg
— Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) October 4, 2015
-----
There have been many rumors and much speculation regarding how the Boston Red Sox would handle their current manager situation. John Farrell left the team in August to undergo treatment for lymphoma and interim manager Torey Lovullo has done a good job with the club during Farrell's absence.
There was a belief the Red Sox might look to keep Lovullo as manager, especially since the team is under new leadership after hiring Dave Dombrowski as their president of baseball operations. However, it appears as if Farrell will be back in 2016.
"Multiple industry sources have confirmed that Farrell will return as manager of the Red Sox -- as long as he's healthy enough to do so," writes Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com.
"Farrell is in the middle of his final chemotherapy treatments this week, which began Wednesday and conclude Thursday. In the last week of October, he will undergo a scan to determine if the cancer has been eradicated.
"If it has, and Farrell is given a clean bill of health from his doctors, sources say the Red Sox will announce that he will return to manage the club in 2016 ...
"Several sources indicated that Farrell will return, health permitting. Two baseball sources confirmed that Farrell has been told as much, while another source revealed that president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, in his first address to the staff in mid-August, said Farrell's job would be waiting for him next spring.
"Until then, the Sox are expected to have no official comment on their manager."
The rumors that surrounded Farrell obviously had a lot to do with the team's performance over the past two seasons as well as the manager's close relationship with former GM Ben Cherington, who left the club after Dombrowski was hired to oversee baseball operations.
Farrell won a World Series in his first year as manager of the Red Sox back in 2013, but in the subsequent seasons the team has missed the playoffs and has a losing record (121-155 under Farell), including a 71-91 campaign in 2014. Lovullo, who took over in mid-August, is 28-13 as interim manager, which raised questions about Farrell's future. Lovullo was also a candidate for a number of managerial vacancies last offseason.
Farrell is under contract through 2017 after he signed a two-year extension this past offseason. He also has a team option for 2018.
It'll be interesting to see how the team handles Lovullo, who is close with Farrell and an integral aspect of the team's coaching staff. There has been a large turnover in managers this season, and up to 12 MLB teams could be looking for a new skipper this offseason. He's more than likely to be a candidate for many of those vacancies.
