Tigers add Joey Cora to coaching staff (source)

DETROIT -- The Tigers have added another veteran voice to A.J. Hinch’s coaching staff. Joey Cora, who spent the past two years as the Mets’ third-base and infield coach, is joining the Tigers’ staff, according to a source.

Which role Cora will fill will be announced once the coaching staff is finalized. The Athletic first reported Cora’s hire.

• What's next for Tigers post-Canha deal?

The Tigers have had an opening at first-base coach after Alfredo Amezaga was not retained, but Cora is a well-regarded third-base coach whose credentials could lead to Gary Jones shifting roles on the staff, something the veteran coach has done before. Jones was Detroit’s first-base coach in 2022 before moving across the diamond to replace Ramon Santiago.

The 58-year-old Cora is the older brother of Red Sox manager Alex Cora, who got his start in coaching as bench coach for Hinch in Houston in 2017. The elder Cora has been a coach for longer, getting his first chance in the Mets’ farm system shortly after completing an 11-year Major League playing career.

Joey Cora spent eight years on Ozzie Guillen’s staff with the White Sox, including as third-base coach on the 2005 World Series champions. He followed Guillen to the Marlins in 2012, then moved to the Pirates, for whom he managed Double-A Altoona to the Eastern League playoffs in 2016 before spending five years as Major League third-base coach under managers Clint Hurdle and Derek Shelton.

Cora also served as infield coach in Pittsburgh, where his duties included working with Fielding Bible Award winner Ke’Bryan Hayes during the third baseman’s first two Major League seasons. Cora also worked with Adam Frazier during his All-Star season in Pittsburgh in 2021. He was a key member of Buck Showalter’s coaching staff in New York the past two years, but his contract expired at the end of October amidst the Mets’ managerial search. The Mets reportedly hired former Yankees coach Carlos Mendoza as their new manager on Monday, but by then, Cora was a free agent and had interviewed with other clubs, notably Detroit.

• Torkelson named Tiger of the Year

While the Tigers hope to become a better, more opportunistic baserunning team, Cora’s work with infielders fills a more immediate need as Detroit tries to improve its defense.

Though utility player Zach McKinstry was a Gold Glove finalist, first baseman Spencer Torkelson took a step backward. Shortstop Javier Báez improved his metrics from 2022 to 2023, but still had bouts of inconsistency and ceded playing time at shortstop to Zack Short. Second baseman Andy Ibá?ez was arguably the lone pleasant surprise in Detroit’s infield. With slugging prospect Colt Keith expected to push for an opportunity at second base next spring and third baseman Jace Jung potentially not far behind, defense takes on a bigger priority.

Though the Tigers have managers in their farm system who are viewed as future Major League coaches, including Double-A Erie skipper and recent Eastern League championship winner Gabe Alvarez, Hinch and president of baseball operations Scott Harris opted for experience.

The Tigers are not expected to make widespread coaching changes but could need to make more additions, depending on coaching changes elsewhere around the Majors. Assistant hitting coach James Rowson is reported to be a top candidate for the Yankees’ primary hitting coach role after Sean Casey did not return.