Manager's Special: You Can Mark Down Farrell For 2 More Years

On Monday Dave Dombrowski announced at the Winter Meetings that John Farrell's 2018 extension would be exercised. 

At least it's not Bobby Valentine, right? Is that the best compliment I can pay John Farrell? No, he's much better than that managing buffoon, but I'm not sure the Red Sox got this one right. 

Yes, that now makes TWO years added to Farrell's contract this off-season. Did I miss something? Sure he led Boston to the playoffs in 2016, and I'm not forgetting what he did in 2013 when the Sox won it all. What I'm choosing to remember is that in 6 seasons as an MLB skipper he's won playoff games in exactly one postseason. Think about that. In fact, in 4 of his 6 campaigns his team that finished in last place or 4th place. 

The timing of this seems interesting. It comes less than a month after Torey Lovullo was introduced as the new manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Would the Sox have made this decision if Lovullo hadn't left the organization? I doubt we'll ever know, but I'm guessing Farrell would have been on a short leash if his successful and popular bench coach was still in town. Instead, Farrell now has the job security many would have scoffed at just a few years ago. 

In an off-season that's seen David Ortiz retire, David Price continue to troll his own fan base from Hawaii (aloha!), and Dave Dombrowski all but guarantee no fireworks, the biggest "splash" this offseason is the ol' Manager's Special. I'm just not sure it's a deal I'd trust. 

Follow Craig Kolodny on twitter @NBCBostonCraig.

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