BOSTON -- The Red Sox are scrambling to assemble a coaching staff in the wake of John Farrell's hiring earlier this week.
The Sox are some six weeks ahead of last season, when Bobby Valentine was hired in early December, but, still, time is of the essence, since the Sox are competing with other teams for the field of available coaches.
At least one other club (the Cleveland Indians) is also putting together a staff, and three other teams (Toronto, Miami and Colorado) are still looking for managers. Soon, they'll be hiring coaches, too.
Obviously, the faster the Sox move, the better position they'll be in.
The Sox have already tabbed -- but not announced -- Torey Lovullo as Farrell's bench coach. Lovullo managed Pawtucket in 2010, interviewed for the Sox' managerial opening last fall and served as Farrell's first-base coach in Toronto the last two seasons.
A number of other coaches from the Toronto staff, each free to seek jobs elsewhere, are also candidates for the Red Sox staff.
Brian Butterfield could be a candidate to be Farrell's third-base coach, though he may be interviewed for Toronto's managerial vacancy.
Boston Red Sox
Two other Blue Jays coaches -- pitching coach Bruce Walton and bullpen coach Pete Walker - are also thought be under consideration as Farrell's pitching coach in Boston.
Rick Peterson, who has served as a major-league pitching coach for Oakland, the New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers, remains something of a longshot candidate.
Peterson, who has some unorthodox views on pitching and has partnered with Dr. James Andrews to study the biochanics of pitching. He served last year as the Baltimore Orioles' minor-league pitching coordinator.
Former Red Sox bullpen coach Gary Tuck had hoped to return to Farrell's staff as bench coach, but that position will go to Lovullo. It's unknown whether Tuck would accept an offer to return as bullpen coach, or whether he could be a candidate for the pitching coach position.
There's a good chance that Alex Ochoa, who served as first-base coach and outfield instructor, could return to the same position under Farrell.
Tim Bogar, who has worked as both first- and third-base coach and last year served as bench coach, does not appear to be a candidate to return.
Bogar is regarded favorably by both Farrell and GM Ben Cherington, but, according to a source, a person in upper management remains unhappy that Bogar didn't work better with former manager Bobby Valentine.