Red Sox close to hiring former reliever as next pitching coach (report)
The Boston Red Sox are close to hiring Andrew Bailey as their new pitching coach, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The team had been searching to fill the position ever since the dismissal of Dave Bush.
The hire comes to no surprise as Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow was teammates with Bailey in Oakland and in Boston. Bailey also helps run Breslow’s foundation, Strike 3. A foundation that he founded which focuses on raising awareness and funds for childhood cancer research.
Boston targeted Bailey prior to hiring Breslow as their leader of the baseball operations team.
Despite their relationship, Bailey did interview for the Yankees bench coach vacancy and was drawing interest from the Orioles, Marlins and White Sox. It’s unknown the financial comment the Red Sox made to Bailey, it’s clear that Boston leveraged their resources to bring him to Fenway Park.
The former Red Sox reliever was drafted by the Athletics in the sixth round (188th overall) during the 2006 MLB draft. He was an American League All-Star in 2009 and 2010.
Boston acquired Bailey prior to the 2012 season along with outfielder Ryan Sweeney for outfielder Josh Reddick and two minor league players. Bailey’s time with the Red Sox was rocky, spending two seasons posting a 4.91 ERA with 14 saves. He was non-tendered by the club following the 2013 season.
“Bailey is extremely well regarded but his family is on the East Coast and he’s believed to want to work closer to home,” Susan Slusser originally reported.
“Bailey has been highly sought after around the majors,” added Slusser.
During his tenure with the Giants from 2020-23, the team ranked in the top seven in the NL in team ERA except during the shortened 2020 season where they were eighth. In each of the past three seasons the Giants have given up the fewest homeruns across the league.
Boston’s pitching staff struggled in 2023, ranking 21st in team ERA (4.52), 24th in opponent batting average (.256) and 24th in homers allowed.
Prior to his job with the Giants, Bailey was hired by the Angels as their instant replay coordinator. In 2019 he became their bullpen coach.
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