The Toronto Blue Jays have hired former Montreal Expos outfielder Tim Raines as a roving minor league outfield and base-running instructor, according to reports.
Mel Antonen was first to report the news on New Year’s Eve and later Sportsnet’s Mike Wilner confirmed the report.
Potential HOF #TimRaines will be an outfield and base-running coach for the #Blue Jays in 2013, Raines says.#MLB — Mel Antonen (@MelAntonen) December 31, 2012
Potential HOF #TimRaines will be an outfield and base-running coach for the #Blue Jays in 2013, Raines says.#MLB
— Mel Antonen (@MelAntonen) December 31, 2012
ICYMI, #Bluejays hired Tim Raines yesterday to be roving minor-league OF/baserunning instructor. Won’t work with big club outside ST. #Jays — Mike Wilner (@Wilnerness590) January 1, 2013
ICYMI, #Bluejays hired Tim Raines yesterday to be roving minor-league OF/baserunning instructor. Won’t work with big club outside ST. #Jays
— Mike Wilner (@Wilnerness590) January 1, 2013
The 53-year-old Raines spent the 2012 season acting as an assistant coach and director of player development for the Newark Bears of the Can-Am League. From 2004 to 2006 Raines worked for the Chicago White Sox, first as a first base coach and later as the bench coach.
The seven-time All Star is likely to one day be inducted into the baseball hall of fame. In 2012 Raines appeared on 48.7 per cent of the ballots — 75 per cent is required for admittance — up from 22.6 per cent in 2010.
Over the course of his 23-year career — 13 with the Expos — Raines led the National League in steals four times, runs scored twice and he took home the 1986 NL batting title when he hit .334.
Raines owns a career batting line of .294/.385/.425/.810 and his 808 stolen bases are the fifth most all time.