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Padres To Replace Hitting Coach Matt Stairs, Infield Coach Josh Johnson

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The Padres are slated to make at least two modifications to manager Andy Green’s coaching staff in the offseason, according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Hitting coach Matt Stairs and infield coach Josh Johnson will not return to their posts.

Stairs, a long-time MLB slugger, joined the Friars after serving in the same capacity with the Phillies in 2017. He lost that job when the Philadelphia organization made broader changes to its field staff. Prior to that point, Stairs had served mostly as a broadcaster after wrapping up his playing career in 2011.

As for Johnson, not to be confused with the former starting pitcher of the same name, he too will be bumped from the mix after just one season. The former third-round draft pick never made it to the majors as a player. His only prior coaching experience came in one season as the skipper of the Nationals’ Gulf Coast League affiliate.

Despite these changes, it does not appear that the San Diego organization will be embarking on a full hiring search. Rather, per the report, the club intends to promote existing personnel to fill the openings.

Padres To Hire Matt Stairs As Hitting Coach

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The Padres are hiring Matt Stairs as the team’s new hitting coach, FanRag Sports’ Jon Heyman reports (via Twitter).  Earlier today, FanRag’s Robert Murray reported that Stairs was the “strong favorite” for the job.

Stairs made his pro coaching debut in 2017, working as the Phillies’ hitting coach and drawing praise for his role in helping the team’s many young hitters.  Still, with Philadelphia’s coaching staff in limbo after Pete Mackanin was removed from the manager’s job, there was already speculation that Stairs could depart for a more stable position elsewhere.  Stairs will now move into another rebuilding situation with another collection of young players in San Diego, plus the added challenge of generating offense in traditionally pitcher-friendly Petco Park.

Stairs spent the 18th of his 19 big league seasons with the Padres in 2010, hitting .232/.306/.475 with six homers over 111 plate appearances.  The Canadian slugger played for 12 different teams over his career, hitting 265 homers and posting a very solid .262/.356/.477 career slash line, while also setting a new MLB record with 23 career pinch-hit home runs.

NL Notes: Nats, Scherzer, Cards, Nicasio, Phillies

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Nationals ace and NL Cy Young front-runner Max Scherzer left his start in the fourth inning against the Pirates on Saturday with a right hamstring cramp, manager Dusty Baker announced. Baker added that Scherzer underwent a precautionary MRI, but the skipper didn’t seem overly concerned about the right-hander, Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post tweets. A major injury to Scherzer right before the playoffs could be disastrous for the Nationals, who will match up with the Cubs in the NLDS. If healthy, Scherzer should take the ball for Game 1 on Oct. 6. The two-time Cy Young winner wrapped up his regular season with 3 1/3 scoreless, five-strikeout innings on Saturday, giving him a 2.51 ERA and 12.02 K/9 against 2.47 BB/9 across 200 2/3 frames.

More on Washington and a couple other NL franchises:

  • The Cardinals have discussed a new contract with impending free agent reliever Juan Nicasio, who made it clear Saturday that he’d like to re-sign with the club. “Try and make a good deal. I want to stay here,” Nicasio told his agent (via Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, on Twitter). Acquired in a trade with Philadelphia on Sept. 6, Nicasio has served as the Cardinals’ closer down the stretch and thrown 10 innings of two-run ball with the team. In 71 1/3 innings divided among Pittsburgh, Philly and St. Louis this season, the 31-year-old has put up a 2.61 ERA and logged 8.69 K/9 against 2.49 BB/9.
  • The Phillies’ decision to change managers could cost them promising hitting coach Matt Stairs, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com writes. In Stairs’ first year on the job, the former slugger has won the favor of the Phillies’ hitters and played a key role in the development of some of their young players, details Zolecki. Thanks in part to Stairs, the Phillies’ offense has posted better numbers across the board than last year’s, including in the runs scored department (679 to 610). Stairs told Zolecki that he’d “love” to continue in Philly, but he realizes his fate rests with the team’s next manager.
  • On Saturday, the Nationals activated infielder Stephen Drew from the 60-day disabled list and moved reliever Shawn Kelley to the 60-day DL with bone chips in his right elbow. The move was made so Drew would be eligible for the postseason, though he’s unlikely to be ready for NLDS action, per Jamal Collier of MLB.com. An abdominal strain has shelved Drew since July 25, before which he slashed a disappointing .253/.302/.358 in 106 plate appearances. Kelley, who last pitched Sept. 22, also endured a poor regular season (7.27 ERA in 26 innings). The two-time Tommy John recipient is due a $5.5MM salary in 2018.

Phillies Name Matt Stairs Hitting Coach

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The Phillies announced today that they’ve hired former Major Leaguer Matt Stairs as their new hitting coach. Additionally, the team announced that bench coach Larry Bowa, pitching coach Bob McClure, first base coach Mickey Morandini and third base coach Juan Samuel will all reprise their roles next year. Additionally, 2016 bullpen coach Rick Kranitz will now be McClure’s assistant pitching coach, while 2016 catching coach John McLaren will take over as the bullpen coach.

Despite going undrafted and signing with the Expos as an amateur free agent in 1989, Stairs enjoyed a highly productive 19-year career in the Majors, during which he batted .262/.356/.477 with 265 home runs and 294 doubles. Stairs appeared with 12 organizations over the of his career and holds the all-time record for pinch-hit home runs at 23. Perhaps the best-remembered moment of his career came in one of his final years while playing for the team for which he’ll now coach. In Game 4 of the 2008 NLCS, Stairs teed off on a Jonathan Broxton fastball and hit a massive two-run homer that put the Phillies in front 7-5 and ultimately propelled them to a 3-1 series lead (video link). Philadelphia, of course, would go on to not only win the NLCS but also to top the Rays in the 2008 World Series.

Stairs has been working in broadcasting over the past several years, including the past three with the Phillies. While he doesn’t come with coaching experience, he did serve as a special guest instructor with the Phillies during Spring Training this past year, and between that and his work in the booth he should be familiar with the majority of the team’s young players. However, he’ll have a tall task on his hands in improving a Phillies offense that collectively batted .240/.301/.385 last season. All three of those ratios rated in the bottom three among Major League teams, and no club scored fewer runs in 2016 than Philadelphia’a 610.

Matt Breen of the Philadelphia Inquirer sat down with the Phils’ newest coach, with Stairs explaining that his work in the booth for the Phillies has prepared him for the job in a way. “Honestly, the last three years, by sitting in that booth, I can tell you the good, the bad, and the ugly of every swing,” said Stairs. “…I just love hitting. And I’m not tooting my own horn, but I know hitting. A lot of people might think, ‘He was the guy that swung from his heels to try and hit home runs.’ That was only later in my career. I can break down a swing.”

Matt Stairs Retires

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After a career that has spanned nearly two decades, Matt Stairs says that he's ready to retire, according to CBC News.  The 43-year-old was designated for assignment by the Nationals last Wednesday and released on Monday.

"I'm not sad. I had a great career, a long career," the slugger said, "And it's one of those things where I can walk away today and not be sad about it."

In his 19 seasons, Stairs has suited up for the Expos, Red Sox, Athletics, Cubs, Brewers, Pirates, Royals, Rangers, Tigers, Blue Jays, Phillies, Padres, and Nationals.  He has earned almost $19MM across his career while posting a slash line of .262/.356/.477 and 265 home runs in 6023 plate appearances.  The veteran hit .154/.257/.169 in 74 plate appearances for Washington this year.

Nationals Release Matt Stairs

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The Nationals announced today that they have released Matt Stairs.  He'd been designated for assignment on Wednesday to open up a spot for Jonny Gomes.

Stairs, 43, hit .154/.257/.169 in 74 plate appearances for the Nationals this year.  In his 19-year career he's played for the Expos, Red Sox, Athletics, Cubs, Brewers, Pirates, Royals, Rangers, Tigers, Blue Jays, Phillies, Padres, and Nationals.  His body of work may surprise you: .262/.356/.477 in 6023 plate appearances, with 265 home runs and almost $19MM in earnings.

Non-Roster Notes: Chavez, Stairs, Atkins

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As we cruise through Spring Training and gear up for Opening Day, let's take a look at some news on some notable non-roster invitees around the league…

Nationals Reach Agreement With Matt Stairs

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The Nationals reached an agreement on a minor league deal with Matt Stairs, according to the team's Twitter feed.  Stairs has assumed a pinch-hitter role in the last few seasons, hitting .232/.306/.475 in 111 plate appearances for the Padres in 2010.  He holds the big league record with 23 career pinch-hit home runs.  Stairs, 43 in February, was originally signed by the Expos as an amateur free agent in 1989.

Cafardo’s Latest: Stairs, Pierzynski, Inge, Berkman

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Let's round up the highlights from Nick Cafardo's Sunday column for the Boston Globe….

  • One AL executive tells Cafardo that he's never seen so many candidates interviewed for managerial openings: "It’s amazing to me that you wouldn’t know within, say, two or three candidates who you want. But I guess in some cases the GM’s job is also on the line if he picks the wrong guy."
  • Matt Stairs would like to play for at least one more season. While he says he'd like to return to Boston, he concedes that he'd probably play "anywhere."
  • An NL scout was positive about A.J. Pierzynski, suggesting that he'll be one of the most attractive catching options on the free agent market, behind Victor Martinez and John Buck. "With A.J., you know he’s not going to throw people out," said the scout. "But there’s nothing wrong with his receiving and he can still hit. I know the fire he has can rub people the wrong way, but I think that’s great for a team."
  • Brandon Inge has a good chance of landing a starting role this winter, given the lack of free agent third base options after Adrian Beltre. However, Cafardo wonders if Inge could eventually become a Bill Hall-esque utility player, given his ability to play a few different positions.
  • Possible bullpen targets for the Red Sox include Joaquin Benoit, Jesse Crain, Matt Guerrier, Jason Frasor, Scott Downs, and Brian Fuentes.
  • A market appears to be developing for Lance Berkman. Teams like the Rockies, Orioles, Mets, Blue Jays, and Diamondbacks could have interest.
  • Carlos Delgado underwent another hip procedure two and a half weeks ago, but is rehabbing the hip and feels like he'll be able to play in 2011.
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