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Tampa Bay Rays Expected To Keep Rest Of Coaching Staff

By Ed Carroll

Aug 22, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Drew Smyly (33) gets congratulated by pitching coach Jim Hickey (48) after throwing a complete game shutout against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Tampa Bay defeated Toronto 8-0. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 22, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Drew Smyly (33) gets congratulated by pitching coach Jim Hickey (48) after throwing a complete game shutout against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Tampa Bay defeated Toronto 8-0. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Tampa Bay Rays plan to keep their entire MLB coaching staff for the 2015 season, as they prepare for a future without former GM Andrew Friedman and former manager Joe Maddon.

The Tampa Bay Rays’ old GM is now with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Their former manager is now a free agent. But what’s left of the Rays coaching staff will remain in Tampa Bay, as the organization plans to retain the entire remaining staff, following the surprising departures of Andrew Friedman and Joe Maddon in a short span of a couple weeks.

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All of the Rays coaches are under contract, and didn’t have the same clause enabling them to leave as Maddon did. The coaches were told to plan to be with the team next season, with a new skipper at the helm. New Rays GM Matt Silverman has already replaced Friedman, but Maddon left late last week, and the Rays haven’t decided if they will look outside the organization for a manager or if it will promote from within, with the most obvious candidate being bench coach Dave Martinez.

The good news for Rays fans is that pitching coach Jim Hickey, who has had immense success with the Rays mostly-young staff, will be back at least for next year, but unpopular hitting coach Derek Shelton will return as well.

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