SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- Long before he was a World Series-winning manager with the Red Sox in 2013, John Farrell was known around the industry as an expert evaluator of talent. He'll be applying that skill set in a new role with the Reds.
Farrell has joined Cincinnati as a scout. He's expected to report to the club's Goodyear camp on Thursday.
The 55-year-old Farrell was dismissed by the Red Sox at the conclusion of the 2017 season, following consecutive American League East titles and consecutive AL Division Series disappointments. He's had a baseball career that has included a wide variety of roles, from big league pitcher with the Indians, Angels and Tigers from 1987-96, to assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for Oklahoma State from 1997-2001, to farm director for the Indians from 2001-2006, to Boston pitching coach from 2007-2010, to Blue Jays manager for two seasons, to his overall successful stint as the Sox's skipper.
For a Reds club in transition, Farrell's experience and, especially, eye for pitching will be assets. He will be tasked with evaluating the club's system and also serving on special assignments.
"He's just a good baseball man," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "I think that's important, a guy that's fresh off seeing Major League games every day for the last X amount of years being able to go through our system and evaluate our players and what they look like. I was tickled to death when I heard. The relationship between him and [vice president and senior advisor] Buddy Bell is really strong, and that helped us secure him."
Farrell's son, Luke, a right-handed pitcher, played briefly in the Reds' system last year before he was claimed off waivers by the Cubs last fall.