Updated: John Farrell will not return as Red Sox manager

After winning a World Series and back-to-back division titles, the Boston Red Sox have fired manager John Farrell.

For the second consecutive year, the Red Sox were ousted in the first round of the postseason and it didn’t take long for Dave Dombrowski to make the decision to replace Farrell after five seasons. Many will question his managerial decisions during his tenure in Boston, but Farrell posted a 432-378 record and won three division titles in 2013, '16 and '17.

"I want to start by thanking John Farrell for what he has done for the Boston Red Sox organization throughout the years as a manager and the pitching coach," said president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. "He's accomplished a lot of fine things for the organization. In the situation here, after some thought processes, you weigh a lot of things that become involved and, to me, I thought it was the appropriate time to make a change for the betterment of the organization to move forward. You weigh a lot of different things that come into play, you watch day in, day out over a season, and you come up with the decision based upon that. For me, I think, at this point sometimes change can be better and that's why we have decided to move forward with the change."

His resume with the Red Sox was impressive and he had the respect of the players in the clubhouse and on the field. It’s been 10 years since he first helped the Red Sox to a World Series title as a pitching coach in 2007. After a two-year stint as manager of the Blue Jays, where he posted a 154-170 record, Farrell was hired to manage the Red Sox in '13 and led the team to a World Series title.

After Farrell replaced Bobby Valentine as manager prior to the '13 season, it was a welcome change for the club. At the time, many of the players and staff described the atmosphere in the clubhouse and on the field as relaxed and professional.

During his two different stints in Boston, Farrell was consistent with his coaching, managing, and message. He was even-keeled most of the time and players accepted his philosophies and professional approach. He had expectations and the players mostly lived up to them on the field.

Players respected Farrell’s knowledge and positivity. The players trusted Farrell and that’s a huge part of becoming a successful manager. It worked for the majority of his time in Boston, but upper management and ownership felt it was time for a change.

"Despite an end to this season that we all wanted to be different, I am proud of this ball club and the resiliency shown," Farrell said in a statement distributed by the club. "I have enjoyed every moment of this job - its peaks and its valleys. There are few, if any, positions in life that create so much passion on a daily basis.

"I am grateful to an ownership group that gave me such a unique opportunity, and one that shared my desire to bring World Series championships to this great city. They supported me through a challenging and scary period in my own life, and I remain forever indebted."

The interview process for a new manager will begin immediately and there are some impressive names out there, including former Red Sox utility man and current Houston Astros bench coach Alex Cora. He’s considered a strong baseball mind and has the ability to run a team. Many will wonder if former catcher and captain Jason Varitek is ready for that role. Joe McEwing could also be a possibility and he's been on the managerial radar for other teams too. Brad Ausmus, who was recently not retained by the Tigers, was hired by Dombrowski in Detroit.

No matter who the Red Sox hire to replace Farrell, winning and a deep run in the postseason will be a priority.