BOSTON -- Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell decided not to
pursue the Pittsburgh Pirates' managing job.
"While I do have aspirations to manage in the major leagues in
the future," he said in a statement issued Friday by the Red Sox,
"I have declined the opportunity to interview for the position of
Pittsburgh Pirates manager."
Pittsburgh is seeking a replacement for Jim Tracy, who was fired
Oct. 5 after two seasons with one year remaining on his contract.
The Pirates lost 95 games in 2006 and 94 games this year.
Farrell took the Boston job before this season and was praised
by his pitchers before and after the Red Sox won the World Series.
He said Thursday his commitment to the club, owners John Henry and
Tom Werner, president Larry Lucchino, general manager Theo Epstein
and manager Terry Francona "needs to be greater than one year for
their faith in hiring me as their pitching coach."
New Pirates general manager Neal Huntington was an assistant to
Cleveland general manager Mark Shapiro. Farrell was the Indians
director of player development for six years before joining the Red
Sox.
"I look forward to contributing to and competing for another
World Series title here in Boston," Farrell said.