Farrell now warming up for Red Sox

John Farrell, a 44-year-old New Jersey native who pitched parts of eight seasons in the big leagues and for one season was Terry Francona's teammate in Cleveland, is expected to be named Red Sox pitching coach.

Farrell, currently serving as the Cleveland Indians' director of player development, would succeed Dave Wallace, whose contract was not renewed after the season, and Al Nipper, who had filled in for Wallace while he was recovering from complications stemming from hip replacement surgery.

Sox officials said yesterday that no official announcement has been scheduled.

In another development, former big leaguer Dave Magadan, dismissed as hitting coach by the San Diego Padres in July, has been hired by the Sox for a role ``still being determined," according to general manager Theo Epstein. The Sox have been without a hitting coach since Ron Jackson's contract was not renewed. Earlier this month, Epstein said Victor Rodriguez had been promoted to the job of minor league roving hitting instructor.

Magadan attended Sox meetings in Boston late last week and was asked his opinion on players. If he does not hire Magadan as hitting coach, Epstein, who was with Magadan while working in baseball operations for the Padres, could use him as a special assignment scout or evaluator.

Cleveland GM Mark Shapiro, who would only confirm that Farrell had interviewed with the Sox, was lavish in his praise of the former righthander, who had a career record of 36-46 in the big leagues from 1987-96. He and Francona were Indians teammates in 1988, and later worked together in 2001 in Cleveland, where Francona served as a special assistant in baseball operations to then-GM John Hart.

``He's an impact guy, a very special, unique guy because of his communication skills, presence, experience, and skill set," Shapiro said. ``He's had an impact on every guy in the organization. Hands on, he helped [rookie Fausto] Carmona get through what he had to deal with this season, and if you noticed, Carmona finished strong. Jason Davis's development . . . Jeremy Sowers . . .

``This is a guy, his ceiling is so unique, he could be an impact general manager or an impact pitching coach."

Farrell and Francona have long been close friends, Shapiro said. ``John is a guy that Theo also would appreciate for the way he thinks. The guy will have appeal to everyone in the organization, including the pitchers."

Epstein had said Nipper would be considered for the pitching coach vacancy, but having been passed over for that job, it's now uncertain whether Nipper will return as bullpen coach, the job he was hired to do until he filled in for Wallace.

Wallace said he has been in touch with a couple of teams, but remains uncertain of his future plans. He said he still does not understand why he was let go by the Sox, who at one time had talked about placing him in a front-office position overseeing the organization's pitchers.

``I've got to move on and get over it, but it's just not right, to be given no reason [for my dismissal]," Wallace said last night. ``Don't tell me it's ability. And they can't say anything for legal reasons about my health, though I've got my doubts. The doctor cleared me to go back in August. Tito was begging me to come back for the last six weeks, and last spring they were talking me about moving me into the front office. When you've been around the game as long as I have, and have the reputation and respect that I have, you deserve an explanation."

Magadan was fired by the Padres July 15 when the Padres were struggling offensively with a .253 average. He was replaced by Merv Rettenmund .

Magadan was known for his plate discipline as a player. He was originally drafted by the Red Sox in the 12th round in 1980, but didn't sign. He had a great college career at Alabama and was named Baseball America's college player of the year in 1983. He was drafted 32d overall by the Mets in 1983. He had his best season in 1990, when he hit .328 with a .417 on-base percentage for the Mets. On the minor league level, the Sox have re-signed Ron Johnson to a two-year contract, with the expectation that Johnson will return as Pawtucket manager.

The Sox also signed righthanders Mike Burns and Bryan Corey to 2007 contracts and outrighted both to Pawtucket. Also, the team announced that righthander Kevin Jarvis, catcher Ken Huckaby, and infielders Alejandro Machado and Carlos Peña have elected to become free agents.

Peña, a native of Haverhill who played at Northeastern, hit .273 with one homer and three RBIs in 18 games with the Red Sox and .459 with 4 homers and 8 RBIs in 11 games at Pawtucket.

The Sox now have 34 players on their 40-man roster plus four players on the 60-day disabled list, including pitchers Matt Clement, Abe Alvarez, Jon Lester, and David Pauley.

This story was reported by Edes in New York and Cafardo in Detroit.