A's bring back Curt Young as pitching coach

Bob Melvin is bringing back a familiar face to guide the Athletics' pitchers.

Pitching coach Curt Young is leaving the Boston Red Sox to return to Oakland and work under Melvin, who received a three-year deal in September to be the club's permanent manager.

The A's announced Friday that Young had signed a one-year deal to rejoin the club that originally drafted him in the fourth round in 1981.

Melvin won't have to worry one bit about Young getting up to speed with the staff. The A's figured the timing was right to reach out to Young with the uncertainty of Boston's field staff after manager Terry Francona was let go last month.

"It's great for a number of reasons," Melvin said in a phone interview Friday. "One, his history with the organization and he is one of the more respected pitching coaches in the game. We knew it would be difficult to get him but we thought it was a good time to ask. We're thrilled to get him. His familiarity with the organization and the pitchers was a comfort for me."

The 51-year-old Young, who pitched 10 of his 11 big league seasons for the A's, left Oakland last year for a stint in Boston after spending 23 years in the A's organization. He guided the 2010 group that had an AL-best 3.56 ERA and a league-leading 17 shutouts while holding opponents to a .245 batting average.

During Young's tenure from 2004-2010, A's pitchers led the American League with a 4.03 ERA and held opponents to an AL-low .257 average while allowing the fewest home runs (1,062) in the league. Young spent four years as a minor league coach in the organization before becoming pitching coach.

Melvin and Young spent a short time as teammates during the 1992 season with Kansas City. They have golfed together, too.

"This move provides Bob with not only an experienced pitching coach on his staff but also someone who has a lot of experience specifically with the organization and with the pitchers on this team," A's assistant general manager David Forst said. "On a personal level, Curt has always been well-liked by everyone in Oakland, and it'll be nice to have him back on our side this season."

AP sources: SD to promote Byrnes if Hoyer leaves

The San Diego Padres are ready to promote Josh Byrnes to general manager if Jed Hoyer leaves for the Chicago Cubs, three people with knowledge of the situation.

The people spoke on condition of anonymity because no deals have been announced.

Last week, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press that Theo Epstein has agreed to a contract with the Cubs with a year left on his general manager contract in Boston. The person said compensation must be worked out.

ESPNChicago.com reported Thursday that Epstein will be the Cubs' president of baseball operations and Hoyer the GM.

The Padres would then promote Byrnes, the senior vice president of baseball operations. He is a former GM of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Byrnes said in an email to The Associated Press on Thursday evening that he couldn't discuss the situation. "Hopefully we'll know soon," he said.

Reached by phone, Hoyer said: "'I'm not commenting on anything."

Byrnes and Hoyer both worked under Epstein in Boston.

Byrnes was hired as GM of the Diamondbacks in November 2005, when Jeff Moorad was one of Arizona's top executives. Byrnes and manager A.J. Hinch were fired by the Diamondbacks on July 1, 2010.

In March 2009, a group headed by Moorad began its purchase of the Padres on an installment plan. Moorad fired Kevin Towers after the 2009 season and hired Hoyer away from the Red Sox.

The Padres went 90-72 in 2010, leading the NL West for much of the season before stumbling in September and missing the playoffs. After Hoyer traded three-time All-Star slugger Adrian Gonzalez to the Red Sox for three prospects and outfielder Eric Patterson in December, the Padres struggled badly and finished last in the division at 71-91.

The Diamondbacks, who hired Towers as GM late in the 2010 season, won the division this season.