TORONTO – The Toronto Blue Jays have informed Bob Stanley that he won’t be back as bullpen coach next season, but the rest of manager John Gibbons’ staff appears set to return for 2015.
One kink could be with bench coach DeMarlo Hale, who interviewed for the Minnesota Twins’ managerial vacancy, but otherwise pitching coach Pete Walker, hitting coach Kevin Seitzer, first base coach Tim Leiper and third base coach Luis Rivera are believed to be set.
Stanley was promoted from pitching coach of the triple-A Buffalo Bisons to the big-league staff last winter, when Pat Hentgen took a leave to care for his father.
Leading candidates to replace him include pitching co-ordinator Dane Johnson, pitching rehab and roving instructor Rick Langford and Bisons pitching coach Randy St. Claire. All have relationships and experience with many of the young Blue Jays pitchers making their way up the system.
The Blue Jays bullpen ranked 12th of 15 teams in the American League with a 4.09 ERA and tied for 11th with a WHIP of 1.34.