Red Sox begin preliminary extension talks with Farrell

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Traditionally, the Red Sox have used spring training as a time to begin contract extension talks with some of their players. It happened last year with David Ortiz; the year before, the groundwork began on a new Dustin Pedroia deal, though it was months before that was completed.

This spring, however, talks seem first focused on manager John Farrell. Farrell is entering the final guaranteed year of the three-year deal he signed in November of 2012, and, according to an industry source, preliminary talks have already begun.

That contract includes a team option for 2016, so Farrell isn't truly at the end of his deal. But the club evidently doesn't want Farrell entering the 2015 season being viewed as a sort of lame-duck manager.

The Sox used the same approach with former manager Terry Francona, often awarding him extensions as his deals were nearing their completion. They regularly addressed his contract during spring training.

In two seasons with the Red Sox, Farrell won a World Series in his first year before a dramatic reversal in 2014 that saw the Sox finish with just 71 wins and finish in the basement of the American League East.

Still, the view of Farrell -- from ownership and the front office -- is largely positive and the 2014 results are being looked upon as aberrational. Farrell is a known commodity to the organization, having worked as the club's pitching coach from 2007 through 2010.

He was their first choice to replace Francona after 2011, but the team couldn't work out adequate compensation with Farrell's employers, the Toronto Blue Jays. When Bobby Valentine was fired after one year, Farrell was again the club's first choice to be their manager.

Theoretically, the Sox could merely pick up the option year, assuring Farrell of being under contract for this year and next. But the goal, according to the industry source, is to add length and security to the deal.

Farrell is scheduled to make $1.7 million in 2015, having earned $1.6 million in 2014 and $1.5 million in 2013. His option 2016 for is worth $2.5 million, which suggests that any new contract would have to be worth at least that much for the first year.

At the end of last season, one baseball source with knowledge of MLB managerial salaries said Farrell ranked 10th among the 30 managers.