Will SF Giants need to replace pitching coach this winter?

One of the first tasks the SF Giants will need to address this winter is putting together Bob Melvin's coaching staff. There is an expectation that several holdovers will remain on the staff, but a key pitching coach could be on the move - Andrew Bailey.

Will SF Giants need to replace pitching coach this winter?

The Giants already lost one key pitching voice when Brian Bannister agreed to join the Chicago White Sox in a role focused on pitching development. Bannister had been well-regarded during his four years with the Giants and the pitching staff generally performed well during that time.

The Giants will seemingly be trying to rebuild its pitching development as Bailey could be on the move as well. The Boston Red Sox recently hired former reliever Craig Breslow as the head of its front office. This was after they parted ways with the head of baseball operations Chaim Bloom before the end of this past season.

Bloom had only been at the helm for four years and he succeeded Dave Dombrowski, who was surprisingly fired less than a year after leading the Red Sox to a World Series. This might have created a stigma while the Red Sox searched for a new head of baseball operations as many candidates either declined an invitation to interview or withdrew from consideration. This even led to former Giants manager Gabe Kapler interviewing for the gig.

The Red Sox have a new person in place with Breslow. They currently have a pitching coach vacancy on Alex Cora's staff after they decided not to keep Dave Bush. Rob Bradford of WEEI.Com speculates that Andrew Bailey could help out in some capacity.

Bailey and Breslow are close friends from their playing days. Both relievers pitched for the Oakland A's and Boston Red Sox in the early 2010's. Plus, Bailey lives on the East Coast, so joining Boston would give him a chance to be closer to his family.

Many of the Giants' holdovers from the coaching staff will get a chance to explore other opportunities if they arise. Though, they seem determined to keep some of their coaches such as Mark Hallberg.

New Giants manager Bob Melvin will likely bring a couple of coaches from his San Diego Padres coaching staff while blending in some other names as well. However, it does feel like the Giants are expecting Bailey to move on to a new team.