The SF Giants are still working to finalize Bob Melvin's 2024 coaching staff. While the team announced nine members of Melvin's staff on Friday, the Giants still do not have a pitching coach. Moreover, it seems like San Francisco has plenty of competition if they want to retain incumbent pitching coach Andrew Bailey. According to a report by Ken Rosenthal and Brendan Kuty of The Athletic, Bailey is currently under consideration for the New York Yankees bench coach opening and pitching coach openings with the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles. It has long been believed by many that Bailey hoped to return to the East Coast before the 2024 season to be closer to his family.
"Bailey, who pitched in the Yankees’ organization in 2015, making 10 major-league appearances, also is a candidate for the Red Sox’s and Orioles’ pitching-coach jobs, sources said," wrote Rosenthal and Kuty. "A return to the East Coast likely would be enticing for Bailey, a South Jersey native and alumnus of Wagner College in Staten Island, N.Y. The Mets sought to interview him for their bench-coach vacancy in 2022, but the Giants denied permission while he was still under contract."
Bailey was hired as the Giants pitching coach prior to the 2020 season by manager Gabe Kapler. As the Giants saw pitchers like Kevin Gausman, Logan Webb, Anthony DeSclafani, and others reach new levels of success in San Francisco, Bailey quickly built a top reputation as one of the best young pitching coaches in MLB. In fact, the New York Mets requested permission to interview Bailey for a bench coach opening last offseason, but they were rejected by the Giants. His contract expired after the 2023 season, however, making him a sought after coaching free agent.
Bailey played in the major leagues from 2009-2017, winning the 2009 AL Rookie of the Year award and receiving two All-Star selections during his tenure as the Oakland Athletics closer. After three seasons with the A's, Bailey went on to have stints with the Red Sox, Yankees, Phillies, and Angels.
Following his playing career, Bailey immediately joined the Angels' coaching staff as an instant replay coordinator and coaching assistant. After one season, he was promoted to bullpen coach. A year later, he had been hired by the SF Giants. Now, though, it seems he is once again close to returning to the American League East.
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