BOSTONThe Red Sox know John Farrell is their manager going into the 2013 season, but they've yet to complete the coaching staff for him
The team has spoken to five candidates for the position of pitching coach: Randy St. Claire; Pete Walker; Rick Peterson; Juan Nieves; and Steve Foster.
One report Monday had Peterson -- currently the Baltimore Orioles minor league pitching coordinator, who has served as pitching coach for the Oakland A's, New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers -- as the team's choice.
But a baseball source labeled that report "inaccurate. That's not the case."
The Sox, Ben Cherington said, are "getting closer" on hiring a pitching coach, "but we're not quite there yet. My hope is that we'll have something on that this week."
After the pitching coach, the Sox will turn to replacing Dave Magadan as hitting instructor. Magadan left the Sox left month to take the same position with the Texas Rangers.
"We've identified some people we want to talk to about the hitting coach position," said Cherington. "I think that will start this week, too. We're moving along at a pretty good speed. We want to get the pitching coach filled first. We've got some names in mind for a hitting coach. Once those (two) are in place, I think the rest of the staff will come together really quickly."
Boston Red Sox
Gary Tuck, who has served as bullpen coach for each of the last six seasons, has an option to return to the staff and must inform the Sox "pretty soon" of his intention, Cherington said.
A source said it was doubtful that either Jerry Royster (third base coach) or Alex Ochoa (first base coach) return to the staff.