Boston Red Sox: Six potential new managers to replace John Farrell

Tony Pena

I agree here, Tony Pena should get a chance to manage. If the New York Yankees move on from manager Joe Girardi, Pena will certainly be the favorite there. It would be interesting to see if the Red Sox could somehow poach him.

Pena actually played in Boston from 1990 to 1993. He won the 1990 Gold Glove award after leading all American League catchers in games played, putouts, and range factor. Pena helped to lead the Red Sox to the ALCS, but they lost to the Oakland Athletics.

A 5-time All-Star catcher, Tony Pena has what it takes to be a successful manager. From 2002 to 2005 Pena got his shot to be a manager with the Kansas City Royals. He delivered the teams first winning season since 1994 in 2003, earning the AL Manager of the Year award. After a terrible 2004 season and a rough start to 2005, Pena resigned as the Royals manager on May 10, 2005.  That November he was named the New York Yankees first base coach.

In 2007, Pena interviewed to become the Yankees next manager when Joe Torre left, but the club went with Joe Girardi instead. Pena chose to remain on the team though. From 2009 to 2014 he was New York’s bench coach, but he’s since shifted back onto the base paths as a first base coach.

In 2013, Pena was named the manager for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. The team went 8-0, with a victory over Puerto Rico in the championship. Pena led the first ever undefeated team in WBC history.

In 2011, some thought Pena would be a great fit to replace Terry Francona in Boston. He never interviewed and the job instead went to Bobby Valentine. When Bobby V was fired after just one season though, Pena did interview before the job went to John Farrell.

Tony Pena’s name should certainly be thrown into the ring here in Boston once again, and this time he may actually land the job.