The Toronto Blue Jays are not expected to stop John Farrell from going to the Boston Red Sox, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today.

The #Bluejays are not expected to stand in the way of the #redsox pursuit of John Farrell

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) October 5, 2012

Nightengale joined Tim & Sid on Sportsnet 590 The Fan Friday where he said the Blue Jays and Red Sox have likely held informal talks regarding Farrell, who he believes will end up in Boston.

“John Farrell is very good friends with (Red Sox GM) Ben Cherington and those people so you can’t say there hasn’t been phone calls,” Nightengale said. “I’m sure Lucchino and Paul Beeston have already talked. Formally just a technicality.”

“Cherington wants him badly. If Blue Jays really wanted him and said no, they would’ve given him an extension or said he’s going to be our guy for the next five years … we’ve never seen those comments. They’re going to let him go.”

While many believe the Blue Jays shouldn’t let Farrell go without receiving significant compensation, Nightengale believes the team wouldn’t get much in return for their manager.

“You’re not going to get much compensation. Remember when Theo Epstein went to the Cubs, there was very little compensation. When Ozzie Guillen went to the Marlins, very little. Only talking about a fringe-type prospect. Nothing big.”

Nightengale said there isn’t a timetable for the move but he expects Farrell to eventually leave Toronto for the Red Sox, where he was the pitching coach from 2005-09.

“They know him. There’s a trust factor. He was the pitching coach there. They like Farrell a lot … if John wanted to stay that badly, he would’ve told Boston he has no interest. That’s never happened on either side.”