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Red Sox manager candidates

Will the Red Sox pursue John Farrell from the Blue Jays? Mitchell Layton/Getty Images

With the Red Sox moving on from Bobby Valentine, the team will now be looking for its third manager in three seasons. The Boston Globe looks at some of the candidates they may consider:

Sandy Alomar Jr., Indians bench coach – If Terry Francona is hired as the Indians manager that would make Alomar free to leave for another job. He was interviewed by the Red Sox during their last go-around, but didn’t get a second interview. The Indians are very high on Alomar, but may not pass on the opportunity to hire Francona, who would excite a dormant baseball crowd.

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Brad Ausmus, Padres special assistant: He has never managed in the major leagues but is considered a managerial prospect in many circles. He led Team Israel in its bid to qualify for the World Baseball Classic. A former All-Star catcher who finished playing in 2010, Ausmus is a Connecticut native and Dartmouth graduate who owns a home on the Cape. He turned down a chance to interview for the Astros managerial job in September, and is a guy the Red Sox highly respect.

Tim Bogar, Red Sox bench coach: Bogar has been with the Red Sox since the 2009 season, but 2012 was his first season as bench coach. He previously managed in the Cleveland and Houston minor league systems before serving as first base and third base coach in Boston. Bogar may be a popular in-house choice. In his favor could be Ben Cherington’s stated preference to find a new manager in a much quicker time than the two months it took to hire Bobby Valentine last year. Bogar is familiar with the players and Cherington’s plans for the organization, and hiring him would probably be the easiest move. Notable about Bogar: He had significant differences with Valentine, especially early in the season, and nearly asked to be reassigned away from Valentine.

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John Farrell, Blue Jays manager: The former Red Sox pitching coach is considered one of the team’s top choices, but the Red Sox would have to surrender compensation to Toronto in order to hire him. In two seasons above the border, Farrell has failed to bring the Blue Jays above .500, though he has dealt with significant injuries to the roster. Farrell is very familiar with the Red Sox, having served as their pitching coach from 2006-10 and helped them win the 2007 World Series. He was considered a top candidate for Boston last year, too, but the Blue Jays’ asking price was Clay Buchholz. If the sides can settle on compensation the Red Sox find more reasonable, Farrell may be on his way back to Boston.

DeMarlo Hale, Orioles third base coach -- Terry Francona’s former bench coach is an astute communicator and knows the division well. He had years of success managing in the minors and deserves a chance in the majors.

Gene Lamont, Tigers third base coach: He was a surprise finalist last season, so Lamont could get in the mix again. He has the benefit of managerial experience and a temperament that could handle the clubhouse.

Torey Lovullo, Blue Jays first base coach: Lovullo, who managed the Pawtucket Red Sox in the 2010 season, was one of the candidates interviewed for the Red Sox managerial opening last November. He said then: “If I do get this opportunity, I can assure you of one thing. I’ll be passionate. I will not be outworked. I’ll be prepared. I’ll try to set forth my vision, a team that will go out each and every day and give 100 percent of their effort for what they have at that given moment.” His connection to Farrell and the Red Sox organization is a plus.

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Mike Maddux, Rangers pitching coach: He was among the candidates the Red Sox considered last year before he withdrew, citing family considerations. He said at the time the distance between Boston and his family in Texas was too much. For the third straight year, the former Red Sox pitcher led the Rangers to a staff ERA of 4.00 or less. He has been considered a top managerial prospect in MLB circles.

Brad Mills, ex-Astros manager: Mills took steps back each year he was in Houston before his firing this summer after a 171-274 tenure in less than three seasons. He was Terry Francona’s bench coach from 2004-09, often playing the role of “bad cop” in the clubhouse. As a friend of Francona’s, his relationship to the ex-manager who parted on sour terms with the Red Sox brass could also work against his candidacy. In his favor would be his connection to the Red Sox’ winning atmosphere from the era in which they won two World Series and his familiarity with many of the players.

Tony Pena, Yankees bench coach: The former Royals manager is familiar with the Red Sox from having spent the past seven seasons on the Yankees staff. He interviewed with the Red Sox on Oct. 15. He said he has no doubt that he would be a better manager in his next opportunity than in his three-plus-year stint in Kansas City from 2003-05 when he went 198-285.

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Jason Varitek, special assistant to Ben Cherington: It wouldn’t be too surprising to see Varitek go from special assistant to Cherington to the manager’s seat. Varitek said he will live in his Georgia home while working for the Sox, a sign that Varitek wants to spend more time with his daughters. It would be awkward for Varitek to manage players who were former teammates. While Jor Girardi did it in New York, the players in question were future Hall of Famers and/or players with multiple championship rings like Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, and Andy Pettitte.

Tim Wallach , Dodgers third base coach: There don’t appear to be any ties between him and the Red Sox, but Wallach’s name keeps popping up as a potential candidate. He is considered a strong candidate, but has been passed up for other jobs. Wallach interviewed with the Red Sox on Oct. 12.