Joe Vavra and Rick Anderson have joined Ron Gardenhire’s corps as bench coach and bullpen coach, respectively, per reports. The same report indicates the full coaching staff is expected to be named later this week. Vavra’s hiring comes hours after longtime second in command Gene Lamont’s announcement that he would not be returning to the club.
Vavra and Gardenhire have history dating all the way back to 2006, when Vavra joined Gardenhire’s Minnesota Twins staff as hitting coach. He would hold the job until 2012, when he was reassigned as third base coach and infield instructor.