If we’re to believe the Boston Globe report that the Red Sox are interested in hiring John Farrell to replace Terry Francona—and assuming Farrell wants the job—Alex Anthopoulos’ personnel policy might allow it to happen.

Earlier this month during an interview with Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi for a column on the Baltimore Orioles’ interest in Blue Jays assistant GM Tony LaCava, Anthopoulos laid out the club’s policy when it comes to other teams’ interest in his employees:

As Davidi wrote: “There is no need for rival clubs to formally seek permission for an interview, to work within a negotiating window, or face a request for compensation. Blue Jays employees are free to speak with whom they please, when they please, for as long as they please.”

Said Anthopoulos: “If you have that philosophy, in the long run it will serve your organization well, you’ll continue to attract outstanding employees because they know they have the freedom, they have upwards mobility, they’re never going to be held down,” he said.

“Selfishly I don’t want any of our guys to leave, but at the same time I hope all of our employees have opportunities to better themselves, whether it’s responsibilities, financial, whatever it might be.”

That policy extends to on-field personnel, including Farrell.

In LaCava’s case, a GM position would be “upward mobility,” whereas Farrell’s return to Boston would be a lateral move. But in the quote above, Anthopoulos also referenced financial considerations, and there’s little doubt the Red Sox could offer Farrell a substantial raise over his current salary in Toronto.

Given the exhaustive managerial search Anthopoulos underwent before hiring the 49-year-old Farrell last winter, and how generally pleased the players and management were with the job the rookie skipper did in 2011, it’s safe to assume Toronto is keen to keep him.

But if Farrell’s heart is still in Boston and Red Sox owner John Henry comes knocking on his door with bags of cash, would Anthopoulos stand in his way, and more importantly, should he?

As Anthopoulos told Davidi, losing an employee to a divisional rival would be: “Just like losing a great player…it hurts twice as much.”

The only thing more potentially damaging would be retaining a manager who’s expressed a desire to work somewhere else.

It should be noted however that Farrell has never come across as anything less than totally committed to Toronto and the Blue Jays, including during a Oct. 19 appearance on Sportsnet Radio 590 the Fan with Mike Wilner.

Full Audio: John Farrell on Sportsnet Radio 590

Anthopoulos is loathe to respond to rumours, but earlier this summer he took the extraordinary step of convening a pre-game press conference at Rogers Centre to address an ESPN story that alleged the Blue Jays were stealing signs from the centre field bleachers.

Sunday’s report in the Globe is likely generating a similar buzz on Anthopoulos’ Blackberry, so you can bet as soon as the Jays have something definitive to say regarding Farrell’s future, we’ll know it.

On Sunday afternoon, Blue Jays president Paul Beeston told told the Globe and Mail the Red Sox haven’t approached the Jays about permission to talk to Farrell.

“John is under contract to us and we think he likes it here,” Beeston told the paper. “They (the Red Sox) haven’t approached us, so I don’t want to comment beyond that because it’s hypothetical.”

Also on Sunday, Davidi posted the following message from the Blue Jays on his Twitter account: “Through spokesman, AA says as per policy, no comment in regards to speculation on Red Sox’s interest in Farrell.”

As for Farrell himself, as of Sunday evening he had yet to reply to numerous requests from Sportsnet seeking comment.

Meanwhile back in Boston, a Tuesday press conference has been scheduled where it’s expected Ben Cherington will officially be named the Red Sox’s new general manager.

If Farrell’s future is in Toronto is secure, a more emphatic statement to that effect sometime between now and Cherington’s opening statement Tuesday would go a long way to silencing the talk.

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BOSTON — Departing Boston Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein took out a full-page ad in Sunday’s Boston Globe to offer “infinite thanks” for the 10 years he spent with the organization, the last nine as GM.

Epstein

Under the heading, “10 Years, Two Championships, Countless Memories, Inifinite Thanks,” the ad takes the form of a letter from Epstein. He writes: “It’s been a privilege to be part of the Red Sox for the last decade and an honor to work alongside some of the most talented and dedicated people in baseball.”

He cites the Red Sox ownership group as having a “commitment to excellence at all levels” and says he is grateful for their “unwavering dedication to winning.” Epstein also thanks assistant GM Ben Cherington, as well as the players, coaches and former manager Terry Francona for their “tireless effort.”

A source told ESPNBoston.com’s Gordon Edes that Cherington will be named Epstein’s successor.

The teams are expected to hold news conferences announcing the moves Tuesday, the next off day in the World Series.

Epstein also thanks Red Sox fans, saying the “Fenway faithful” has been the “driving force” behind the team’s success.

He also offered thanks for the support given to “The Foundation to be Named Later,” which he cofounded with his brother Paul. The foundation has given $5 million in grants to needy youth in the greater Boston area.

The Globe’s website indicates a full-page color ad in the Sunday paper costs $9,801, with premium placement potentially costing about an additional $2,000.

The Red Sox and Cubs issued a joint statement Friday night announcing Epstein has resigned from his post as Boston’s general manager to become the Cubs’ president of baseball operations. Epstein’s deal has been held up for more than a week as the teams haggled over compensation the Red Sox would receive for letting Epstein out of his contract. Those negotiations continue even as Epstein leaves his hometown Red Sox.

According to the joint statement, the teams “have reached an agreement regarding a process by which appropriate compensation will be determined for the Red Sox and that issue will be resolved in the near term.”

According to Comcast Sports Net New England, however, commissioner Bud Selig said he would intervene if the two sides can’t reach an agreement by Nov. 1.

“They have until Nov. 1, Theo and Ben and all the other parties involved,” Selig said Sunday night before Game 4 of the World Series, according to the site. “Hopefully they can get things done. I always encourage clubs to try to get things done between themselves. Somehow, the commissioner has enough things of controversy.

“They’ll either get it done or they won’t. If they don’t, then I will.”

Epstein, who grew up in Brookline, Mass., a stone’s throw from Fenway Park, was hired by Boston as the youngest GM in major league history in 2002 at the age of 28. Two years later, he was the youngest GM to win it all as the Red Sox broke an 86-year championship drought. Boston won a second World Series in 2007.

Under Epstein’s guidance, Boston went 839-619 (.575) in the regular season and 34-23 in the playoffs.

ESPNBoston.com’s Gordon Edes contributed to this report.

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Boston Red Sox are coming out of the All-Star Game with encouraging reports on pitcher Josh Beckett and outfielder Carl Crawford.

Crawford is set to return from a strained left hamstring on Monday, manager Terry Francona said during Boston’s off-day workout Thursday. Crawford will begin a two-game minor league rehab assignment at Triple-A Pawtucket on Friday.

“He’ll travel on Sunday to Baltimore and barring any setbacks” rejoin the Red Sox when they open a three-game series against the Orioles, Francona said.

Beckett was scratched from the All-Star Game after feeling soreness in his left knee while warming up in the bullpen. The right-hander remains scheduled to start Sunday’s game at Tampa Bay.

Beckett went just five innings in his last start against Baltimore July 8 after he slightly hyperextended his knee on the wet mound at Fenway Park.

“I’m pretty confident he’ll pitch Sunday,” Francona said. “If for some reason he can’t, we’ll back him up a couple days. I’ve got a feeling that’s going to the worse-case scenario, which is good. I don’t think that is going to happen.”

Beckett is scheduled for a bullpen session Friday.

Also, left-hander Jon Lester, sidelined because of a strained muscle in his back, played catch in Boston at 60 feet.

“All went really well,” Francona said.

Notes
The Red Sox signed their second-round draft pick, OF Williams Jerez, and assigned him to their Gulf Coast League rookie-level club. Jerez is a former member of Hank’s Yanks, an 18-and-under baseball team sponsored by New York Yankees’ co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner. He hit .692 this season at Brooklyn’s Grand Street Campus High School.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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DETROIT — Justin Verlander took a shutout into the eighth inning as the Detroit Tigers beat the Boston Red Sox 3-0 to get a split of Sunday’s day-night doubleheader.

Verlander (5-3) allowed four hits and walked two in 7 2/3 innings, throwing a career-high 132 pitches. The pitch count matched the highest by a Tigers pitcher since Felipe Lira threw 135 on Aug. 11, 1996.

Josh Beckett (4-2) took his first loss since April 5 — his first start of the season. Beckett gave up two runs on five hits and a season-high five walks in six innings.

The loss ended Boston’s five-game winning streak. The Red Sox had won 13 of their last 15 before the night game.

Detroit got a pair runs in the first inning when Brennan Boesch hit an RBI double and scored on Miguel Cabrera’s base hit. Don Kelly drove in Cabrera for an insurance run in the eighth.

Jose Valverde, who lost the first game, pitched the ninth for his 12th save, retiring first-game hero David Ortiz to end the game.

In the opening game, Ortiz homered off Valverde — first pinch-hit homer in eight years — to break a 1-1 tie in the ninth inning and help Boston win 4-3.

“I don’t like pinch hitting too much, but I did just what I do as a DH,” Ortiz said. “I went to the cages, took some swings and got loose.”

Ortiz, pinch-hitting for Jarrod Saltalamacchia, worked a full count against Valverde, then hit a line drive over the scoreboard in right-center.

“Valverde is so tough on right-handed hitters, it seemed like a easy decision with David sitting there,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. “He worked the count and got a great swing.”

Before Sunday, Ortiz had only faced Valverde once, hitting a grand slam on July 30 of last year.

“I was waiting for one pitch, and he gave it to me,” Ortiz said.

Matt Albers (1-2) picked up the win with two shutout innings of relief, while Valverde (2-2) took the loss. Jonathan Papelbon pitched a perfect ninth for his 10th save.

Boston’s Clay Buchholz and Detroit rookie Andy Oliver each pitched six innings and allowed three runs.

Oliver struggled badly in the first inning of his season debut, allowing a double, a walk, a hit batter and four stolen bases, but somehow escaped down just 1-0 on Adrian Gonzalez’s sacrifice fly. Martinez didn’t even get off a throw on any of the stolen bases, which included a double steal by Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis.

“My slide step was a little slow in the first inning,” Oliver said. “From the second inning on, I relaxed and got focused on keeping guys off the bases.”

The Red Sox got solo homers from Mike Cameron and Pedroia in the next two innings, but Boston’s offense stalled util Ortiz’s homer in the ninth.

“I thought he did very well to hold that team to three runs,” Tigers manager Jim Leyland said of Oliver. “You call up someone from the minors and they hold the Boston Red Sox to three runs in six inngs, you think they just did a good job.”

Andy Dirks homered in the fourth, and Boesch’s fourth homer pulled the Tigers with a run in the sixth.

Cabrera followed with a double, took third on Martinez’s groundout and scored on Jhonny Peralta’s single.

NOTES: Before the game, the Red Sox placed reliever Franklin Morales on the 15-day disabled list and recalled right-handed reliever Michael Bowden. … The second game of the doubleheader was not originally scheduled to be televised, because of ESPN’s exclusive Sunday-night contract, but a waiver was reached Sunday afternoon that allowed the game to be shown in both Boston and Detroit. … The second game started 50 minutes late due to light rain.

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MAY 22: Kevin Youkilis and Adrian Gonzalez celebrate the Red Sox 5-1 win over the Chicago Cubs on May 22, 2011 at Fenway Park. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

BOSTON (CBS) – The Boston Red Sox look to avenge an early season sweep at the hands of the Indians when they open up a seven-game road trip with three in Cleveland Monday night.

The Indians (29-15) have the best record in baseball and sport an 18-4 record at Progressive Field. They swept the Red Sox in the second series of the season, dropping Boston to 0-6 on the season at the time.

Now the Red Sox come in having won eight of their last nine and find themselves just half-a-game out of first place in the American League East.

“We’re a different club since the start of the season,” second baseman Dustin Pedroia said after Boston’s 5-1 win over the Chicago Cubs Sunday night. “We’ve been playing better, we just have to continue to do so.”

Sports Blog: Red Sox Know How Good They Are

Pedroia is batting just .205 since April 10th, but other Red Sox have stepped up as of late. Adrian Gonzalez is 10 for his last 15, and hitting .481 over the last week. He leads the team in batting average (.341) home runs (9), and RBI (41, tops in the Majors).

“He’s just such a professional hitter,” manager Terry Francona said of his first baseman. “Hits the ball to left field, fights off pitches, gets something he can handle and he hits it off the wall. He’s a really good hitter and he’s in a really good period. I hope it lasts for awhile too.”

“I’m feeling good,” said Gonzalez after his four-for-four Sunday night. “Being able to swing at the pitches I want to swing at, I don’t chase too many pitches out of the zone. I just try to execute my game plan.”

Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchi has been making the most of his plate appearances as well, going seven for his last 18, including three home runs, out of the nine spot in the order.

“He looks more confident and he should be,” Francona said of his young catcher. “He’s playing better.”

“It’s nice to go up to the plate wanting to hit the ball hard, getting a good pitch and being able to do it,” said Saltalmacchia.

The Red Sox will have their top three pitchers going in this series with Clay Buchholz, Josh Beckett and Jon Lester each getting a shot at the Indians. Buchholz starts the series, going against former Red Sox prospect Justin Masterson, who was traded to Cleveland in the Victor Martinez deal in 2009.

Pitching Matchups For Boston’s Three Game Set In Cleveland

Monday 7:05 pm

• Clay Buchholz (4-3, 3.42 ERA) vs Justin Masterson (5-2, 2.52 ERA)

Tuesday 7:05 pm

• Josh Beckett (3-1, 1.73 ERA) vs Fausto Carmona (3-4, 4.76 ERA)

Wednesday 12:05 pm

• Jon Lester (6-1, 3.68 ERA) vs TBA

Not much else going on in the MLB planet today.

AP PHOTO Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona, left, walks to the mound to pull starter Clay Buchholz, center, from Sunday’s game against the Texas Rangers as catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia looks on.

ARLINGTON, Texas — All those predictions of greatness for the Boston Red Sox this season sure look silly now.

Of course, it’s also pretty silly to read too much into a single series — especially the opening weekend of the season.

Still, a 5-1 loss to the Texas Rangers on Sunday put the Red Sox in an 0-3 hole. The favorites to win the AL pennant were swept by the reigning league champions, and it was hardly ever close.

The Red Sox were outscored 26-11 in three games. They allowed 11 home runs, with each starting pitcher giving up at least a pair.

“I don’t think these guys missed a mistake in 27 innings,” said starter Clay Buchholz, who epitomized the tough luck by giving up just five hits Sunday, four of them home

AP PHOTO Boston’s Dustin Pedroia reacts after flying out during Sunday’s loss to the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas.

runs. “It’s a tough one but we’ll learn something from it.”

Boston fell to 0-3 for the first time since 1996, a season that began 0-5.

“We’re not very happy with the series, that’s an understatement,” manager Terry Francona said. “But I think there’s a difference between being aggravated over a series as opposed to sitting around and panicking. It would have been a lot more fun going on the flight after a win and feeling good about yourself.”

The team plane was headed to Cleveland. The Red Sox are off Monday, then have three games against the Indians. It could be a chance to get out some frustrations, or to find out whether they really are in trouble. They follow that series by heading home and playing the rival Yankees.

They won’t get another crack at the Rangers until Aug. 22 at Fenway Park.

Texas got to Buchholz (0-1) with solo homers in the second, third, fifth and seventh innings. Ian Kinsler and Nelson Cruz each had one, becoming the first set of teammates to homer in each of the first three games in a season.

The Rangers also were led by seven strong innings from Matt Harrison (1-0). He was outstanding the first six innings, then got into a jam in the seventh, walking two and giving up an RBI single to Carl Crawford. Harrison got out of it by striking out Jacoby Ellsbury with the bases loaded, preserving a 4-1 lead.

“He has good stuff,” Francona said. “His fastball is ranging from 90-95 (mph) and the off speed made him good. He was pretty impressive. We had one shot and didn’t capitalize.”

There were a few bright spots for Boston, starting with Crawford going 2 for 4.

Boston’s $142 million offseason addition was dropped from third in the lineup to seventh after starting the season 0 for 7 with four strikeouts. He got his first hit of the season in the second inning with a line drive that landed just inside the third-base line.

“You could tell he was feeling good about himself,” Francona said.

David Ortiz went 2 for 4. In the ninth inning, he nearly joined the three-homer club but a shot to center field was caught on the warning track.

Jonathan Papelbon kept the game close by striking out the side with the bases loaded in the eighth.

Texas is 3-0 for the second time in three years.

Kinsler and Cruz came into the game as only the sixth set of teammates to homer in the first two games of a season. Kinsler also had become the first player to hit a leadoff homer in each of the first two games. Buchholz walked him in the first inning to avoid any chance of making it three straight, then Kinsler delighted in going deep in his second plate appearance.

Cruz’s homer was notable, too, as it was just the second by a right-handed batter to reach the upper deck in right field at Rangers Ballpark.

Harrison allowed one run and five hits in seven innings, tying his career high with eight strikeouts and walking two. He was dominant from the start, striking out two batters in the first inning and five his first time through the lineup. Adrian Gonzalez came into the game 5 for 9 without a strikeout, and fanned in his first two at-bats — swinging, then looking.

NOTES: Boston’s flop of a start in 1996 also began in Texas. … Former Boston outfielder David Murphy got the Rangers’ scoring started with a solo homer in the second. He improved to 6 for 9 in his career against Buchholz. … Last year, Buchholz was 8-3 with a 2.35 ERA in 13 starts following a Boston loss.

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Published: Sunday, March 13, 2011, 3:08 PM     Updated: Sunday, March 13, 2011, 7:41 PM

BRADENTON, Fla. – Boston Red Sox reliever Scott Atchison’s bid to earn a spot was not helped Sunday, but a teammate thought there may have been a contributing reason.

Josh Beckett said the bullpen mound at McKechnie Field, spring training home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, is far different than the field mound.

Atchison was hit hard in the Pirates’ six-run fifth inning, when he replaced Beckett iin mid-inning. The righty allowed four hits and two runs in one inning.

Atchison gave up Pedro Alvarez’s bases-loaded, two-run double and Lyle Overbay’s ringing two-run single. Atchison also walked a man.

The Pirates won 9-4. Beckett was the losing pitcher.

Beckett said he felt badly for handing Atchison a bases-loaded, no-out situation in the fifth.

“It can’t be easy to come in like that,” Beckett said.

Red Sox manager Terry Francona concurred that the mounds were different, but stopped short of making it a full excuse.

“Monstrous (disparity),” Francona said as he looked at the bullpen mound, which looks mountainous when compared to the flatter field mound.

“(Pitching coach) Curt Young pointed it out. It’s hard, but what are you going to do?”

Atchison’s ERA is 6.00. Prior to Sunday’s outing, Atchison had pitched five innings in spring training, allowing two runs on three hits for a 3.60 ERA.

The righty faces a numbers fight in his bid to make the roster. He won such a battle last year, allowing two runs in 12 spring innings.

Atchison’s ability to make the roster in 2010 was one of the subtle feel-good stories of that spring. He had pitched the two previous seasons in Japan.

He has pitched in the majors in parts of only four seasons, including 43 games for Boston in 2010.

Atchison turns 35 on March 29. He now has another such roster fight on his hands.

His chances rest partly but not entirely with whether Boston keeps one or two left-handed relievers.

Atchison is also well-regarded by Francona, but the glut of relievers leaves no guarantee of a roster spot on Opening Day.

Atchison was at his locker briefly after the outing, but did not pause to talk to reporters about his outing before leaving. That was a matter of logistics, not avoidance.

The media was talking to Beckett at the time, and there was no reason to think Atchison, an approachable player who is also known to avoid excuse-making, was avoiding comment.

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