Coaching changes are among us.
The Mets have announced today that third base coach Chip Hale, bench coach Ken Oberkfell, first base coach Mookie Wilson and bullpen coach Jon Debus will not be returning to the major league club in 2012.
Hitting coach Dave Hudgens and pitching coach Dan Warthen will stay with the team.
According to Joe Stiglich of the Bay Area News Group, Hale has signed a 2-year deal to be the bench coach for the Oakland A’s.
Wilson and Debus will be offered other roles within the organization.
Look for Tim Teufel coaching third base next year and Ricky Bones coaching the bullpen staff.
Mets GM Sandy Alderson is expected to conduct a press conference at 4 p.m. EST to discuss the coaching changes.
Update at 5 PM: Sandy said they wanted a pitching presence in the bullpen, while Debus’s background is as a catcher. Wally Backman is not a contender to become a major league coach, even though he is a very strong contender to replace Teufel as Bisons manager.
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