Alex Anthopoulos Conference Call - Organized Snippets

Here are snippets of Alex Anthopoulos' (AA) conference call regarding John Farrell (JF) from Twitter. Unfortunately there was a typo in the number so we were not able to hear it first hand. Thanks to folks like Mike Wilner, Brendan Kennedy, Mike Cormack, Barry Davis, and Shi Davidi for their tweets!

On John Farrell's Revelation About His "Dream Job"

• AA and JF did not chat about an extension at any point in 2012
• A week after the season ended, JF told him that managing the Red Sox was his dream job and that if an opportunity arose, he wanted to persue it
• On the last day of the season, AA's thought JF was "100% going to be the Blue Jays manager for 2013" so AA's focus was just on the roster, but when Red Sox "distractions" came up, Farrell confirmed he wanted to go
• The Jays would have continued with JF as the manager in 2013 if trade did not work out, appreciated JF's honesty that he wanted to go to the Red Sox, saying "There was no other city for him that was more of a perfect fit and perfect opportunity."
• Question on why AA isn't angry. Response: "You're never going to get me on a conference call ranting and raving" because it isn't productive, and JF worked hard in Toronto. "Unique set of events" led to his leaving. AA is not happy but now they have to move forward as an organization
• When JF told AA Boston was his dream job, "didn't make much sense" not to look at trading him

On the Trade and Negotiation Process

• Red Sox owner John Henry talked to Jays president Paul Beeston regarding a trade
• AA and Beeston apologizes for the premature leak last night, but didn't release anything because they needed to finish medical tests on Mike Aviles and the trade needed to be approved by the Commissioner's Office
• AA says it didn't go "as smoothly" as he would have liked
• This was not a lateral move, it was a trade. Team will still forbid lateral moves
• Clubhouse issues started when the Jays didn't win enough games
• AA wishes JF well
• AA doesn't believe that JF's hiring was a mistake since the timing of Terry Francona's dismissal and Bobby Valentine's short tenure was unique; a perfect storm
• Not concerned about Blue Jays intelligence leaked to the Red Sox via John Farrell

On the Spread of False Information

• It is "100% false" and there was "not one ounce of truth" that JF wanted Omar Vizquel released, disappointed at all the false information out there
• Disappointed at the amount of "gamesmanship" coming from "the other side"
• AA: Boston Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington is "first-class, honest, straight forward" and that he wishes he could tell you where a lot of [the false information] came from."
• Reports on Adam Lind's involvement in trade was obviously 100% false
• During the entire negotiation, AA focused on getting big-league talent, not prospects.
• AA: The entire transaction was done at the ownership level.

On the Players Involved in the Trade

• AA never planned to leave David Carpenter on the 40-man roster anyway
• On Aviles: Yes, OBP is bad, but it isn't easy to find everyday middle infielders with two years of control, and the free agent market is thin, would love to find someone with .360-.400 OBP but those are rare
• Mike Aviles will "at a minimum" have a utility role, may compete for 2B in spring training depending on other moves. AA spoke to Aviles today and "promised him nothing"
• AA: one thing that was learned this year was to not rely too much on young players and that they can't have too much depth at any level

On the Managerial Search

• Search for new manager will be "significantly faster"
• Right now there are no front runners for the Jays' managerial search, but it will be a much smaller group than last time
• The coaching staff is free to talk to any other ballclub during the managerial search since they aren't under contract, AA hopes that "some" of them will return
• AA would seek to speak to a few people who were with other clubs he didn't get a chance to talk to last managerial search

It's official! David Carpenter Sent To Red Sox In Mike Aviles Trade

Sources tell Alex Speier and Rob Bradford of WEEI.com that the Toronto Blue Jays will be sending 27-year old RHP David Carpenter to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for IF Mike Aviles. Aviles (@TheMikeAviles) confirmed on Twitter that he will be coming to Toronto.

Darrell David Carpenter, the Jays' second "D. Carpenter" to wear #39 this past season, was acquired from the Houston Astros on July 20 along with J.A. Happ and Brandon Lyon. He appeared in 3 games with the big club, throwing 2.2 rather ineffective innings.

Last offseason, the Boston Red Sox received another Carpenter--Christopher John--as compensation from the Chicago Cubs for general manager Theo Epstein.

UPDATE: Literally moments after this was posted, Sportsnet's Barry Davis reported that the Blue Jays have made the trade official.

UPDATE 2: Just received this press release from the Blue Jays:

BLUE JAYS COMPLETE DEAL WITH RED SOX

The TORONTO BLUE JAYS have traded RHP DAVID CARPENTER to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for IF MIKE AVILES and have released manager JOHN FARRELL from his contract. The transaction was agreed upon by both clubs, and was contingent upon the Red Sox reaching an agreement with John Farrell for their managerial position.

AVILES, 31, appeared in 136 games for the Red Sox last season, batting .250 with 13 home runs and 60 RBI. The 5-10, 204 lb. right-handed hitter was originally drafted in the 7th round by the Kansas City Royals in 2003 and just completed his 5th Major League season. In 475 games with the Royals and Red Sox, Aviles has posted a .277 average with 39 home runs and 190 RBI.

CARPENTER, 27, was acquired by the Blue Jays from the Houston Astros in July and appeared in three games out of the bullpen. The Morgantown, West Virginia native posted 0-2 record with an 8.07 ERA in 33 games with Houston and Toronto in 2012.

FARRELL, 50, completed his second season as Toronto’s manager, posting a 73-89 record in 2012 and a 4th place finish. The Monmouth, New Jersey native now owns a 154-170 record in his two seasons as a manager.

Thoughts On John Farrell's Exit

So it is finally over, except for letting us know the details. After sleeping on it, what do we think of the Farrell deal?

Distilled Details On The John Farrell Deal: Mike Aviles Sent From Red Sox

Jon Morosi, in a series of tweets of greater resolution, has reported that the Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays will be completing a trade shortly involving one player from each team, that the player going to the Jays was a Major Leaguer in 2012, and that the Jays will be getting a non-Will Middlebrooks infielder.

WEEI's Rob Bradford has reported that the Blue Jays will receive 31-year old Mike Aviles from the Red Sox.

I would be surprised if the Blue Jays send anything more than an organizational roster filler to the Red Sox.

UPDATE: According to Sportsnet Radio the Fan 590, Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun has reported that Adam Lind may be the Blue Jays player to go to the Red Sox in the trade.

The Boston Red Sox Have Hired Former Toronto Blue Jays Manager John Farrell

Sean McAdam of Comcast Sportsnet have reported that he Boston Red Sox have hired former Toronto Blue Jays manager John Farrell as their new skipper.