During the winter meetings, Bobby Valentine emphasized his wish to select his coaching candidates — a bench coach, pitching coach and first base coach — by Christmas weekend.
It appears the Red Sox skipper is sticking to his timeline. On Wednesday, Valentine tabbed third base coach Tim Bogar to become his new bench coach. In the process, Valentine will hire longtime friend Jerry Royster to succeed Bogar at third.
Bogar, 45, initially joined the Red Sox organization in 2008 as the team’s first base coach. After two years on the job, former manager Terry Francona appointed him as the club’s third base coach.
Bogar also shares a history with Valentine, having played under him in 1996 for the New York Mets. He will replace DeMarlo Hale, who moved to Baltimore to become the Orioles’ third base coach.
As for Royster, 59, he once served as the interim manager for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2002 and guided the group to a 53-94 record.
The Red Sox are still looking to fill their opening for a pitching coach.
