Catching up on some coaching staff moves from around baseball…
- The Tigers will name Anthony Iapoce as their new first base coach, Lynn Henning of the Detroit News reports (X link). Tim Federowicz is leaving his position as the big league catching coach to take over as the manager at Triple-A Toledo, which was Iapoce’s previous job in 2023. Iapoce worked as a hitting coach with the Rangers and Cubs from 2016-21 and then as a senior hitting coordinator with the Red Sox in 2022 before joining Detroit’s organization. Federowicz retired from playing following the 2021 season, and the former catcher is already on his second Triple-A managerial stint after previously being the skipper of the Mariners’ top affiliate in 2022.
- The Royals announced the hiring of Joe Dillon as an assistant hitting coach. A big leaguer with the Marlins, Brewers, and Rays from 2005-09, Dillon’s time in Tampa’s organization overlapped with the tenure of current Royals manager Matt Quatraro, back when Quatraro was working as an instructor in the Rays’ minor league system. Dillon also has longstanding ties in Kansas City, as the Royals began his pro career when they selected him in the seventh round of the 1997 draft. Since retiring as a player, Dillon has worked as a hitting coach and coordinator at the Major League and minor league level, including two years as the Nationals’ assistant hitting coach in 2018-19, and then working as the Phillies’ big league hitting coach in 2020-21.
The Royals are really a mess all the years of drafting at the top & all they have to show for it is Witt.
I really hope hey can sign him to an extension and then start building something there.
Witt is the best thing they have going for them, and they have the money to give him an extension. I think Salvador Perez is the only player making “substantial” money on the books.
Nicholas Colasanto is up for coach on “Cheers”
To hire him wouldn’t be out of the Norm
Grudgingly gave you a thumbs-up lol
Witt has to agree that he wants to stay in KC to sign an extension. Can he see the path for the Royals to be a competitive team?
Eat some money & trade Perez to a contender in need of a catcher. I like the Marlins to matchup well in a trade.
Problem is Perez has to agree to a trade. If he sees a better path to winning in Miami maybe he says yes, if not why leave one rebuild for another when he can retire as “Mr. Royals”
George Brett already has dibs on Mr Royals
I think he has a home in Miami and seemed amenable to the trade previously. Also seems like the White Sox are a possibility
Ahhh yes, 2 crappy Brewers- Joe Dillon and Anthony Iopoce. Oh the memories
Nothing sells tickets like exciting new coaches!
From X:
Brayan Peña will be the new Minor League Catching Coordinator of the Detroit Tigers, per sources.
In the last 3 seasons (2021-2023) Peña served as manager of the West Michigan Whitecaps in the Tigers Class-A advanced.
Now in this new role he will be in charge of developing the organization’s catchers, talent evaluation and ensuring that players are prepared to advance to the next level.
Peña is the manager of the Cuban professional team of emigrated players that will soon participate in the Intercontinental Series in Colombia at the end of January 2024.
I like Brayan Pena & hope he continues rising in the Tigers org.
Maybe Pena can help the Tigers with International signings of Cuban talent.
It seems that under Harris the Tigers are finally trying to put themselves in better position with the International market of talent.
Pena is on the rise in the coaching/managing side of baseball.