masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThe shuffling in the Orioles’ minor league system is expected to reach down to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League.
While the club hasn’t made an announcement regarding its affiliates, I’ve heard that Alan Mills will serve as manager for the GCL team. And this is a new level and role for the former reliever.
Mills is replacing Carlos Tosca, who spent the past two summers as manager. Tosca is expected to work as an outfield and baserunning instructor, though again, nothing has been made…

The shuffling in the Orioles’ minor league system is expected to reach down to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League.

While the club hasn’t made an announcement regarding its affiliates, I’ve heard that Alan Mills will serve as manager for the GCL team. And this is a new level and role for the former reliever.

Mills is replacing Carlos Tosca, who spent the past two summers as manager. Tosca is expected to work as an outfield and baserunning instructor, though again, nothing has been made official.

o'day_mills_catch_spring.jpgFormer manager Buck Showalter had Mills on his staff as bullpen coach for the past two seasons. Mills’ contract ran out on Oct. 31 and he was offered a position in the minors, with the expectation that he’d become pitching coach with one of the affiliates.

Mills has held the role with Double-A Bowie, Single-A Delmarva and short-season Single-A Aberdeen in the Orioles organization, and with short-season Single-A Oneonta in the Tigers system. However, he’s never been a manager.

He commands respect in every job, which should ease the transition at least a little bit.

Former Orioles minor league pitcher Jon Keller tweeted the following about Mills yesterday: “Best coach/leader in the organization without a single doubt”

Mills pitched in the majors for 12 seasons, including parts of nine with the Orioles in 1992-98 and 2000-01. If anyone remembers the two players traded to the Yankees in exchange for Mills on Feb. 29, 1992, I’ll be floored like Darryl Strawberry after a right cross.

The Yankees acquired pitchers Francisco de la Rosa and Mark Carper, the latter a native of Cheverly, Md., as players to be named. Carper never reached the majors. de la Rosa made two relief appearances with the Orioles in 1991 before the trade and never returned to the majors.

As I’ve reported multiple times, the Orioles also need a new manager at Triple-A Norfolk, pitching coach at Single-A Frederick and hitting coach at Aberdeen.

Meanwhile, yesterday’s announcement regarding the major league staff included no mention of a bench coach for first-time manager Brandon Hyde.

Tim Cossins was handed the title of major league field coordinator and catching instructor, but I’ve been told that he’s going to assume some of the duties of a bench coach, which was the assumption all along if you’ve been following along.

Cossins will assist with pregame preparations and he’s got the important task of coordinating spring training at the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota. He has Hyde’s trust dating back to their time together in the Cubs organization.

One person in the organization described him as “an incredible catching instructor.”

With no actual bench coach designated, the Orioles likely would turn to Cossins if Hyde is ejected from a game.

No other team in the majors is working without a bench coach and no one on the staff, including Hyde, has past managerial experience in the majors. But some resumes include managerial tenures in the minors.

José Hernández moves up from Norfolk to serve as an extra coach, as Einar Díaz did previously, and will assist in a variety of areas that include infield, outfield and hitting instruction. He probably will throw batting practice, too.