Red Sox Ask Jays To Talk Directly To Farrell

AP PHOTO / ELISE AMENDOLA

UPDATE: Sox Even Closer To Farrell Deal

According to a report from the Associated Press, sources suggest that the Red Sox have formally asked the Blue Jays to speak directly with John Farrell. This is the first hard indication that compensation talks either already have begun or are about to. This information indicates that the Red Sox are closer than ever to landing Farrell as their new manager. Baseball protocol discourages any major announcements before the end of the World Series, but there have been precedents that violated this—most notably A-Fraud encroaching on a Red Sox World Series run.