LA Angels confirm intriguing coaching hires, gearing up for spring training

The LA Angels have officially confirmed a few interesting coaching hires as they get ready for the 2022 season.

Phil Nevin, Bill Haselman, and Benji Gil have all been hired by the Halos, although their roles have not been announced just yet. This is partly due to the fact that the team wants to bring Adam Eaton back to coach, but can't yet due to him being classified as a free agent covered by the current MLB lockout. According to MLB insider Jon Heyman, however, none will be their bench coach:

Angels are hiring Ray Montgomery out of their front office to be their new bench coach. Very well respected longtime exec is an interesting choice. Montgomery was an MLB outfielder who previously worked in D-Backs and Brewers front offices.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 6, 2022

For some of these guys, however, it appears rather obvious as to where the Halos will assign them to on the coaching staff.

The LA Angels are close to finalizing their 2022 coaching staff.

The LA Angels parted ways with third-base coach Brian Butterfield this offseason, so it can be speculated that Nevin will take over that role. Nevin was the New York Yankees' third-base coach for the last four years. The overall expectation is for Nevin to be a third-base coach here.

Another open position for the Halos would be the catching coach, as Jose Molina was also parted ways with this offseason. While Haselman could end up taking third, as he has been a third-base coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers' AAA team, he was a catcher when he played in the Majors. He is expected to end up being the new catching coach.

As for Gil, he's been coaching in Mexico since 2014. Many of you probably remember him from our World Series champion team in 2002. He played for us for four years.

We know he won't be the bench coach, and we know that he would of course not be the catching coach (especially with Haselman now in the mix). Perhaps he could take the first base coaching gig, as it's not been much of a secret that the Halos have been looking for one. They were reportedly in on very well-respected former Padres first base coach Wayne Kirby, and they reportedly whiffed.

It appears that Gil or Eaton would coach first. Regardless, the bodies keep coming in, and now Angels Manager Joe Maddon just needs to find the right spots to plug them into.

The LA Angels are close to finalizing their 2022 coaching staff.

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