Mets expected to add Wayne Kirby to coaching staff: reports

The Mets are expected to hire Wayne Kirby, likely as the club's first base coach, according to multiple reports.

Along with the Mets reportedly adding Kirby, SNY's Andy Martino reported on Tuesday that the club had spoken with former Pittsburgh Pirates third base coach Joey Cora, with reports indicating he will be joining the staff as well, likely as the third base coach.

Per The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, the Los Angeles Angels were unable to finalize a deal with Kirby to join their staff earlier this offseason.

Kirby, 57, was a coach for the San Diego Padres for the last two seasons.

Prior to joining the Padres, he was the first base coach on Buck Showalter's staff with the Baltimore Orioles from 2011 to 2018.

With Jeremy Hefner having been retained and Kirby and Cora reportedly set to join the staff, the Mets still need to hire a bench coach, hitting coach, and bullpen coach.

Per the New York Post's Mike Puma, two possibilities for bench coach are former manager John Russell and Los Angeles Dodgers first base coach Clayton McCullough, though MLB Network's Jon Heyman has since reported that the Mets don't believe McCullough will leave LA for a coaching job.

Russell, 60, managed the Pirates from 2008 to 2010 and was a coach for the Orioles from 2011 to 2018 -- a stint that overlapped with Showalter's tenure as manager there.

McCullough, 42, interviewed for the Mets' manager job before it went to Showalter.