Red Sox Bench Coach Brad Mills Hired as Manager of Astros

On Tuesday afternoon, Brad Mills became the second member of the organization in the past 24 hours to be plucked out of the Red Sox system. Terry Francona‘s bench coach was named the new manager of the Houston Astros, according to ESPN.com.

Mills, 52, spent six seasons with the Red Sox. He has 11 seasons of minor league managerial experience under his belt after spending six years with the Cubs’ affiliate, four with the Rockies’ affiliate and one with the Dodgers’ affiliate. 

Reportedly, the Astros’ first choice was former Nationals manager Manny Acta, but he accepted an offer from Cleveland on Monday.

Since reaching the World Series in 2005, the Astros have had two losing seasons in four years. Mills will become the fourth manager of the organization since mid-2004, replacing Cecil Cooper, who was fired on Sept. 21. Third-base coach Dave Clark finished out the season as interim manager and the team finished 74-88.

Houston interviewed 10 candidates for the position.

Current Astros general manager Ed Wade was the GM of the Phillies from 1998-2005, when Mills served as Francona’s bench coach. Wade fired both Mills and Francona in 2000.