OAKLAND -- Former A's player Mark Kotsay has been named the club's bench coach, the team announced Thursday.Earlier this week, the A's were given permission by the Padres to speak with Kotsay, who just completed his first season as hitting coach with San Diego after working in the Padres' front office in 2014 as a special assistant to the general manager. He had one year remaining on his contract with San Diego.
With Kotsay assuming bench-coach duties, the A's will have Mike Aldrete -- who served in that capacity last year -- take over the role of first-base coach, which was recently vacated by the dismissed Tye Waller. 
Aldrete, who is entering the second year of a two-year deal, was manager Bob Melvin's first-base/outfield coach in Seattle in 2004.The rest of the 2015 coaching staff returns intact, with Curt Young as pitching coach, Darren Bush as hitting coach, Ron Washington as third-base coach, Scott Emerson as bullpen coach and Marcus Jensen as assistant hitting and catching coach.In addition, the A's have named Phil Pohl as bullpen catcher. Pohl was the A's 28th-round Draft pick in 2012 and spent nearly four seasons in Oakland's farm system before he was traded to Colorado this past June 26.Kotsay, 39, played for seven teams during his 17-year big league career that ended in 2013. Four of those years were spent with Oakland, where he hit .282 with 38 home runs from 2004-07.
Jane Lee/ MLB.com
Aldrete, who is entering the second year of a two-year deal, was manager Bob Melvin's first-base/outfield coach in Seattle in 2004.The rest of the 2015 coaching staff returns intact, with Curt Young as pitching coach, Darren Bush as hitting coach, Ron Washington as third-base coach, Scott Emerson as bullpen coach and Marcus Jensen as assistant hitting and catching coach.In addition, the A's have named Phil Pohl as bullpen catcher. Pohl was the A's 28th-round Draft pick in 2012 and spent nearly four seasons in Oakland's farm system before he was traded to Colorado this past June 26.Kotsay, 39, played for seven teams during his 17-year big league career that ended in 2013. Four of those years were spent with Oakland, where he hit .282 with 38 home runs from 2004-07.
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