Read More: Ryan Madson (P – PHI), Heath Bell (P – SDP), Jonathan Papelbon (P – BOS), Daniel Bard (P – BOS), Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox

After the sudden departure of Jonathan Papelbon, the Boston Red Sox could look to Heath Bell or Ryan Madson to fill their closer opening, according to a report from Danny Knobler of CBS Sports.

Papelbon reportedly signed with the Philadelphia Phillies today, accepting a deal that is expected to pay him close to $50 million over four years.

Knobler tweeted that the Red Sox “will be in on” both Bell and Madson, and that the team is “not committed to Daniel Bard as closer yet.” Bard finished last year 2-9 with a 3.33 ERA in his role as Papelbon’s set-up man.

Bell, who already revealed interest in joining the Red Sox, has notched at least 42 saves in each of the last three seasons. He finished the 2011 season with a 3-4 record, posting 43 saves and a 2.44 ERA.

Madson, who was rumored to be returning to Philadelphia on Monday before the Phillies signed Papelbon, was 2-4 in 2011 with 46 saves and a 2.37 ERA.

For more Boston Red Sox coverage, visit our team page and blog, Over The Monster.

BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox are looking for a strong voice in a clubhouse that disintegrated in September amid reports of players drinking beer and eating fried chicken during games. Pete Mackanin thinks he might be able to provide it. “I feel like I have leadership qualities and I feel like I can help this franchise get back to where it once was,” he told reporters on Monday night after interviewing to be the Red Sox manager to rebuild from the worst September collapse in baseball history. “Not that it was ever gone from anything, but I guess there was a little hiccup here last year. We’re going to put it behind us and move on.” The Red Sox opened their managerial search by interviewing Mackanin, the Philadelphia Phillies bench coach. Former Boston third base coach Dale Sveum is scheduled for an interview on Wednesday, and general manager Ben Cherington says there could be five or six candidates in the first round of interviews in all. “It could be more. We’re still working on the rest of that list,” Cherington said. The Red Sox parted ways with Terry Francona, who won two World Series in Boston, after he admitted losing the clubhouse during a 7-20 September that left the ballclub one game short of the playoffs. Asked if he was more of a players’ manager or a disciplinarian, Mackanin said he was able to be both. “I think you have to have an element of both sides of that in order to be a good motivator,” he said. “I think there’s a juggling act that’s involved in that, where you have to have enough discipline but at the same time let the players play easy. You don’t want them tense.” Mackanin declined to evaluate the team’s collapse, saying he was more worried about the Phillies at the time. He wouldn’t say whether he would allow beer in the clubhouse if he gets the job. “You know what, I don’t want to go there,” he said. “I’m not at that point yet. I’d rather not discuss that. We can talk about that later.” A second baseman who spent 548 games over nine seasons with the Rangers, Expos, Phillies and Twins, Mackanin brings a well-rounded resume with him, including work as a minor- and major-league player, a scout and advance scout, a third base coach, infield and outfield instructor, minor league coordinator, “and just about everything except manager.” He later remembered that he had in fact managed in the big leagues: on an interim basis for the Reds in 2007 and Pirates in 2005. He has also worked in the Expos, Pirates and Yankees systems, as well as in the Caribbean, South America and Australia. “So I’d like to think it’s time for me to manage at this level,” he said. “I don’t ask (why). My wife asks me all the time. Of course I’ve wondered and I don’t know. Whatever happens happens. I’m good with it. I’m happy to have an opportunity just to have somebody listen to me.” Also Monday, the Red Sox declined contract options on relievers Dan Wheeler and Scott Atchison. The Red Sox retain control over Atchison, but can sign him for a lower salary; Wheeler also remains an option, Cherington said. “We didn’t feel like we could commit to that money for him this early in the offseason,” he said. “We’ll keep the door open.” Cherington said he has also talked to the agents for David Ortiz and Jonathan Papelbon, who are both free agents, but that it is unlikely an agreement would be reached before the exclusive negotiating window closes on Thursday. Cherington also said that no agreement has been reached with the Chicago Cubs for compensation for former GM Theo Epstein. Commissioner Bud Selig had set a Tuesday deadline, saying he would step in and settle it if an agreement hadn’t been reached; more conversations were planned, Cherington said. “We’ve always felt like that was a possibility,” Cherington said. “It’s a difficult deal to work out because its hard to quantify the value of Theo Epstein. I have an idea of it and Theo doesn’t think he’s worth as much. So we haven’t been able to bridge that gap yet. I think both sides are comfortable with that outcome of it happens that way.” Also, John Lackey is scheduled for previously announced Tommy John surgery on Tuesday.

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Red Sox are looking for a strong voice in a clubhouse that disintegrated in September amid reports of players drinking beer and eating fried chicken during games.

Pete Mackanin thinks he might be able to provide it.

“I feel like I have leadership qualities and I feel like I can help this franchise get back to where it once was,” he told reporters on Monday night after interviewing to be the Red Sox manager to rebuild from the worst September collapse in baseball history. “Not that it was ever gone from anything, but I guess there was a little hiccup here last year. We’re going to put it behind us and move on.”

The Red Sox opened their managerial search by interviewing Mackanin, the Philadelphia Phillies bench coach. Former Boston third base coach Dale Sveum is scheduled for an interview on Wednesday, and general manager Ben Cherington says there could be five or six candidates in the first round of interviews in all.

“It could be more. We’re still working on the rest of that list,” Cherington said.

The Red Sox parted ways with Terry Francona, who won two World Series in Boston, after he admitted losing the clubhouse during a 7-20 September that left the ballclub one game short of the playoffs. Asked if he was more of a players’ manager or a disciplinarian, Mackanin said he was able to be both.

“I think you have to have an element of both sides of that in order to be a good motivator,” he said. “I think there’s a juggling act that’s involved in that, where you have to have enough discipline but at the same time let the players play easy. You don’t want them tense.”

Mackanin declined to evaluate the team’s collapse, saying he was more worried about the Phillies at the time. He wouldn’t say whether he would allow beer in the clubhouse if he gets the job.

“You know what, I don’t want to go there,” he said. “I’m not at that point yet. I’d rather not discuss that. We can talk about that later.”

A second baseman who spent 548 games over nine seasons with the Rangers, Expos, Phillies and Twins, Mackanin brings a well-rounded resume with him, including work as a minor- and major-league player, a scout and advance scout, a third base coach, infield and outfield instructor, minor league coordinator, “and just about everything except manager.”

He later remembered that he had in fact managed in the big leagues: on an interim basis for the Reds in 2007 and Pirates in 2005. He has also worked in the Expos, Pirates and Yankees systems, as well as in the Caribbean, South America and Australia.

“So I’d like to think it’s time for me to manage at this level,” he said. “I don’t ask (why). My wife asks me all the time. Of course I’ve wondered and I don’t know. Whatever happens happens. I’m good with it. I’m happy to have an opportunity just to have somebody listen to me.”

Also Monday, the Red Sox declined contract options on relievers Dan Wheeler and Scott Atchison. The Red Sox retain control over Atchison, but can sign him for a lower salary; Wheeler also remains an option, Cherington said.

“We didn’t feel like we could commit to that money for him this early in the offseason,” he said. “We’ll keep the door open.”

Cherington said he has also talked to the agents for David Ortiz and Jonathan Papelbon, who are both free agents, but that it is unlikely an agreement would be reached before the exclusive negotiating window closes on Thursday.

Cherington also said that no agreement has been reached with the Chicago Cubs for compensation for former GM Theo Epstein. Commissioner Bud Selig had set a Tuesday deadline, saying he would step in and settle it if an agreement hadn’t been reached; more conversations were planned, Cherington said.

“We’ve always felt like that was a possibility,” Cherington said. “It’s a difficult deal to work out because its hard to quantify the value of Theo Epstein. I have an idea of it and Theo doesn’t think he’s worth as much. So we haven’t been able to bridge that gap yet. I think both sides are comfortable with that outcome of it happens that way.”

Also, John Lackey is scheduled for previously announced Tommy John surgery on Tuesday.

The Boston Red Sox are looking for a strong voice in a clubhouse that disintegrated in September amid reports of players drinking beer and eating fried chicken during games.

Pete Mackanin thinks he might be able to provide it.

“I feel like I have leadership qualities and I feel like I can help this franchise get back to where it once was,” he told reporters on Monday night after interviewing to be the Red Sox manager to rebuild from the worst September collapse in baseball history. “Not that it was ever gone from anything, but I guess there was a little hiccup here last year. We’re going to put it behind us and move on.”

The Red Sox opened their managerial search by interviewing Mackanin, the Phillies bench coach. Former Boston third base coach Dale Sveum is scheduled for an interview on Wednesday, and general manager Ben Cherington says there could be five or six candidates in the first round of interviews in all.

“It could be more. We’re still working on the rest of that list,” Cherington said.

The Red Sox parted ways with Terry Francona, who won two World Series in Boston, after he admitted losing the clubhouse during a 7-20 September that left the ballclub one game short of the playoffs. Asked if he was more of a players’ manager or a disciplinarian, Mackanin said he was able to be both.

“I think you have to have an element of both sides of that in order to be a good motivator,” he said. “I think there’s a juggling act that’s involved in that, where you have to have enough discipline but at the same time let the players play easy. You don’t want them tense.”

Mackanin declined to evaluate the team’s collapse, saying he was more worried about the Phillies at the time. He wouldn’t say whether he would allow beer in the clubhouse if he gets the job.

“You know what, I don’t want to go there,” he said. “I’m not at that point yet. I’d rather not discuss that. We can talk about that later.”

A second baseman who spent 548 games over nine seasons with the Rangers, Expos, Phillies and Twins, Mackanin brings a well-rounded resume with him, including work as a minor- and major-league player, a scout and advance scout, a third base coach, infield and outfield instructor, minor-league coordinator, “and just about everything except manager.”

He later remembered that he had in fact managed in the big leagues: on an interim basis for the Reds in 2007 and Pirates in 2005. He has also worked in the Expos, Pirates and Yankees systems, as well as in the Caribbean, South America and Australia.

“So I’d like to think it’s time for me to manage at this level,” he said. “I don’t ask [why]. My wife asks me all the time. Of course I’ve wondered and I don’t know. Whatever happens happens. I’m good with it. I’m happy to have an opportunity just to have somebody listen to me.”

Also Monday, the Red Sox declined contract options on relievers Dan Wheeler and Scott Atchison. The Red Sox retain control over Atchison, but can sign him for a lower salary; Wheeler also remains an option, Cherington said.

“We didn’t feel like we could commit to that money for him this early in the offseason,” he said. “We’ll keep the door open.”

Cherington said he has also talked to the agents for David Ortiz and Jonathan Papelbon, who are both free agents, but that it is unlikely an agreement would be reached before the exclusive negotiating window closes on Thursday.

Cherington also said that no agreement has been reached with the Cubs for compensation for former GM Theo Epstein. Commissioner Bud Selig had set a Tuesday deadline, saying he would step in and settle it if an agreement hadn’t been reached; more conversations were planned, Cherington said.

“We’ve always felt like that was a possibility,” Cherington said. “It’s a difficult deal to work out because its hard to quantify the value of Theo Epstein. I have an idea of it and Theo doesn’t think he’s worth as much. So we haven’t been able to bridge that gap yet. I think both sides are comfortable with that outcome of it happens that way.”

Also, John Lackey is scheduled for previously announced Tommy John surgery on Tuesday.

Days removed from the dismissal of Terry Francona as manager of the Red Sox, there is no sign that Theo Epstein’s departure is also imminent.

This much we know:

Epstein has an opportunity to move on. The Cubs’ interest has been piqued, and other clubs would consider snapping up the young (37) GM of the Sox.

Epstein has a year remaining on his present contract, so he’s got a comfort zone.

Epstein certainly would like to right the ship, and his ties to the area (family, Foundation to be Named Later) would almost certainly make him think twice about moving.

We know that he’s a personal favorite of owner John Henry, who, we believe, is still alive since this mess began last month.

Epstein and Sox CEO Larry Lucchino, the Dean Wormer of this Animal House, have had friction in the past. When Epstein left the club wearing a gorilla suit on Halloween night 2005, he apparently left because of a power struggle with Lucchino. The issue was resolved in January, and Epstein returned.

After Francona’s farewell press conference Friday, when Epstein, chairman Tom Werner and Lucchino met the press, Lucchino was hardly effusive in his praise of Epstein when he was asked about the GM’s future with the club. “We’re not prepared to answer that question here… He’s under contract with us so its an issue that has not been addressed,” was all Lucchino said.

Werner quickly jumped in: “I think we feel collectively that he’s one of the best general managers in baseball and has been integral to the success of our club the last 10 years.”

So, unlike the party line with Francona, that they wanted him to stay, there is no such thing with Epstein. There’s no party line.

The real question is that, while there seems to be near universal praise of Francona and his managerial style and ability, that’s not the case with Epstein. In fact, one has to wonder whether Epstein even deserves to continue on with the job that he first assumed on Nov. 25, 2002. While it’s true that the Red Sox have won two World Series under Epstein, the first, 2004, was won with a team largely assembled by Dan Duquette. The Sox have made the playoffs six times in nine years. During the same span the Yankees made it eight times.

The Sox haven’t made it to the playoffs in each of the last two seasons – after being swept by the Angeles in 2009.

Epstein has certainly done a fine job of building the farm system, but he’s also depleted it with his major trades, which is one reason why the Sox were in such trouble this season. While starting pitchers went down one by one, the depth was such that the Sox were forced to rely on Andrew Miller and Kyle Weiland to start.

During his tenure, Epstein has presided over several press conferences that were accompanied by such fanfare that you’d have thought the circus was coming to town. In a way, it was, but the signings of Daisuke Matsuzaka, John Lackey, Mike Cameron, Carl Crawford, Eric Gagne, etc, were busts.

While the Phillies have assembled a staff anchored by Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels, and other teams have stars such as CC Sabathia and Justin Verlander, the Red Sox have been found not to have that one big horse to take them anywhere.

Epstein did a nice job in landing Curt Schilling in 2004, but after losing Pedro Martinez and Derek Lowe the following season he added Matt Clement and Wade Miller. Kyle Snyder, Julian Tavarez, Brad Penny and John Smoltz were his desperation attempts to shore up his pitching staff in the tough A.L. East in ensuing years.

In the last two seasons, Epstein picked up Victor Martinez and Adrian Beltre and then lost them. The Sox failed, anyway, when they were here. Ditto for this season with Adrian Gonzalez.

The upshot is that for all the hopes and dreams of Sox fans, for all the optimism that goes along with being an upper echelon team in baseball’s best division, Epstein hasn’t gotten the job done.