Major League Baseball

Sources: Farrell closer to BoSox job

Published Oct. 19, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

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Ken Rosenthal

It's becoming increasingly likely that Toronto Blue Jays manager John Farrell will be the next manager of the Boston Red Sox.

The Red Sox fired manager Bobby Valentine on Oct. 4, after just one disappointing season at the helm.

Since Farrell has one more year on his contract with the Blue Jays, a compensation agreement — involving a player or players — will be required for the Red Sox to hire Farrell. According to major league sources, discussions between the Blue Jays and Red Sox about that compensation are reaching an advanced stage.

Once the Blue Jays and Red Sox agree on the player or players, a contract for Farrell to manage the Red Sox is viewed as a fait accompli.

It's possible a that formal announcement of Farrell's hiring as the Boston manager could come within the next week.

One rival executive called the compensation negotiations "a staring contest."

Farrell was a popular pitching coach under former Red Sox manager Terry Francona. Farrell would have been the Red Sox's first choice to be their new manager last year, but the Blue Jays prevented him from making what was then described as a lateral move.

"There's no question it gets done in my mind," said one rival executive. "Toronto doesn't want him there anymore."

The Red Sox regained financial flexibility in their trade with the Dodgers in August. And the Yankees could be even more vulnerable next season, making the division wide open.

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