Via a Royals Press Release:
Kansas City, MO (October 2, 2008) – The Kansas City Royals today announced that the following coaches have been offered contracts to return for the 2009 season. The list includes: pitching coach Bob McClure, bench coach Dave Owen, first base coach Rusty Kuntz and bullpen coach John Mizerock.
Mike Barnett (hitting) and Luis Silverio (third base) were not offered Major League coaching contracts for 2009. Silverio has been offered another coaching position within the organization. An announcement regarding the full 2009 coaching staff will come at a later date.
- McClure has served as pitching coach since 2006.
- Barnett was hired as the Royals hitting coach on May 1, 2006. Last season the Royals finished 6th in the American League in batting average (.269), but just 12th in OBP (.320) and slugging (12th), en route to finishing 12th in runs. As mentioned earlier this week, the Royals did not reach 700 runs scored (691) for the first time since 1995. Looking at this low-patience, low-power roster however, it's hard to blame Barnett for these numbers too much.