If major league baseball does not like the concept of trading managers or management personnel for players, it has not stopped the wave of changes in the last two seasons.
The Blue Jays have "traded" manager John Farrell to the Red Sox for 31 year old utility infielder Mike Aviles. Aviles hit .250, 13 HR, 60 RBI for Boston in 2012. Aviles projects to be a solid bench player in 2013.
Farrell goes back to Boston where he inherits a boat load of player dissension and bad play. After Terry Francona September 2011 team meltdown, the Red Sox pulled in a hard nose, old school manager in Bobby Valentine, who was burned at the stake by the players, media and eventually Red Sox management.
The Blue Jays struggled at times under Farrell. Farrell was the hot candidate a few years back. Apparently, the Blue Jay management questioned the team's lack of on-field discipline during the 2012 season as a possible reason for allowing Farrell to leave the team. Another reason may have been giving Farrell a multi-year extension, when the Blue Jays have not performed well under his leadership.
Baseball managers, statistically, may directly influence 3 to 5 games a season. Great managers seem to get the most "intangibles" out of their rosters on a daily basis. Good managers seem to keep a team on an even keel and usually wind up at .500. Bad managers compound their team's weaknesses and usually do not stay around long enough to right the ship.
Farrell goes to a team, the Red Sox, that used to have the resources to buy free agents and push for the playoffs. The Red Sox traded away $250 million in contract obligations to the Dodgers. There is no indication that the Red Sox will turn around and spend that money in free agency this off season. Farrell may be stuck with the same roster as Valentine.
