Red Sox to name Ron Roenicke manager, per report

The Red Sox have decided on their manager, according to a report from the Boston Globe’s Pete Abraham. Sources have told Abraham that the Red Sox plan to name bench coach Ron Roenicke their manager and will do so once MLB concludes its sign-stealing investigation. Roenicke had spent the previous two seasons as the team’s bench coach under Alex Cora, which of course means he was part of the championship coaching staff in 2018, which is also the staff under investigation. The Red Sox have also, according to various reports, interviewed Carlos Febles, Luis Urueta and Mark Kotsay.

Roenicke has indicated that he had no part in the sign-stealing scheme the Red Sox allegedly hatched in 2018 and wouldn’t partake in that sort of thing. That would be absurd to me, as I can’t imagine a bench coach to not be a part of that. On the other hand, them staying internal even with this investigation is another sign, along with multiple players’ insistence that they did nothing wrong, that the findings will not be nearly as harsh as the Astros. I feel like the Red Sox would have to be pretty comfortable with that assumption to be ready to hire someone who was here in 2018.

Roenicke does have managerial experience as well, having been at the helm of the Brewers dugout from 2011 through 2015. In his four full seasons he finished over .500 three times and made the playoffs once, ultimately finishing his tenure with an overall winning percentage of .508. As of now there is no indication as to whether this is believed to be a longer-term hire or just a one-year placeholder.

Update:

The Red Sox are saying no decision has been made.