Willie Randolph Joins Orioles as Bench Coach...

Written by The Oriole Post | 23 November 2010

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As expected, Willie Randolph has agreed to a contract with the Baltimore Orioles. He will serve as the bench coach...

From the Baltimore Sun: Former New York Mets manager Willie Randolph agreed to terms this afternoon to become Orioles’ bench coach in 2011, reuniting him with Orioles manager Buck Showalter, the man that gave Randolph his first big-league coaching job in 1994.

Randolph, 56, had spent the past two seasons as Ken Macha’s bench coach in Milwaukee, and prior to that, was the manager of the New York Mets from 2005 to 2008.

A six-time all-star second baseman in an 18-season big-league career, including 13 with the New York Yankees, Randolph will also be the Orioles’ infielders’ coach. Brewers’ second baseman Rickie Weeks made strides defensively this season, and Randolph was cited as one reason why.

Like prior agreements this offseason, Randolph’s hiring will not become official until the organization announces its full list -- which could come Wednesday. But Showalter’s staff appears to be completed after nearly two months of discussions and negotiations.

With the hiring of Randolph, former Pittsburgh Pirates manager John Russell, who could have served as bench coach, will coach third base, a position he held for three seasons with the Pirates from 2003 to 2005. Russell, a former big-leaguer, will also instruct the team’s catchers.

In addition to the Randolph hiring, Koji Uehara was not offered arbitration, and likely Kevin Millwod won't either.

Finally, former Aubrey Huff, who joined the San Francisco Giants as a free agent last off-season and won a World Series ring has re-signed with them. He signed a two-year, $22 million-dollar deal.