Rick Peterson will be interviewed for the pitching coach job.
Ben Cherington and the Boston Red Sox are almost done assembling their coaching staff.The Red Sox hired Brian Butterfield as their third-base coach Tuesday, and are now expected to address the jobs of pitching and bullpen coaches.
Rick Peterson was scheduled to be interviewed for the job of pitching coach on John Farrell's staff. Hurricane Sandy might delay the meeting, but Peterson is highly regarded in the field and an interview will take place soon.
Butterfield, 54, was Farrell's third-base coach in Toronto. He managed for six years in the New York Yankees system, and was expected to be among the candidates to replace Farrell as manager in Toronto.
Instead, he will join Torey Lovullo, who also moved from the Toronto staff to Boston. Lovullo will serve as Farrell's bench coach.
Peterson, who turned 58 Tuesday, has been the Baltimore Orioles director of pitching development. He has been a coach since 1979, with time in seven different organizations.
He served in the Cleveland minor league system from 1986-88. Farrell came up through the Indians system and was coached by Peterson at Waterbury and Buffalo in the 1980s, before reaching the majors with Cleveland in 1987.
Even with Rick Adair as the Orioles pitching coach, Peterson has been given credit for his work in a supporting role. Baltimore rose from 14th and last in 2011 American League ERA to sixth in 2012.
He reportedly likes Baltimore, but the pitching coach job in Boston would represent a step up from his current developmental role. It is also considered a prized role under Farrell, a former pitching coach who pledges to give his choice wide lattitude.
Red Sox bullpen coach Gary Tuck has an option on his contract. Family health issues are reportedly one reason Tuck's renewal is uncertain.
Butterfield has spent 16 years on big league coaching staffs, the last 11 of which were in Toronto.
The hitting coach job is open after Dave Magadan took a similar job with the Texas Rangers. The Red Sox must also decide on a first-base coach.
Alex Ochoa was the first-base coach last season. He was a favorite of fired manager Bobby Valentine, but his return has not been formally ruled out.