Jason Bere Hired as Cleveland Indians New Bullpen Coach

By Ed Carroll |

The Cleveland Indians filled the lone vacancy on their 2015 coaching staff, naming Jason Bere as bullpen coach. Bere, 43, pitched in the Major Leagues for 11 seasons, and made 13 starts for the Indians between the 2000 and 2003 seasons. Bere had been working as a special assistant to the front office for the past nine years:

Bere has worked in CLE front office for past 9 years. Was special assistant to baseball ops, focusing on evaluating Minor League pitchers.
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) January 6, 2015

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Bere’s hiring seems to be the final domino in the fallout from former Tampa Bay Rays general manager Andrew Friedman

to join the Los Angeles Dodgers. He will replace Kevin Cash, who was

by the Tampa Bay Rays in December to fill Joe Maddon’s hoodie; Maddon

out of his contract after Andrew Friedman left for Los Angeles.

As a pitcher, Bere was around the Indians a lot despite only making 13 starts. He was traded to Cleveland near the deadline in 2000 as part of the same trade that sent Richie Sexton out to Milwaukee and brought back Bob Wickman and Steve Woodard. He was signed to contracts by the team in the 2002, 2003 and 2004 offseasons, before he retired from playing in May 2005.

Bere was also the winning pitcher in the final game at Municipal Stadium on October 3, 1993. Bere, pitching for the Chicago White Sox at the time, threw seven scoreless innings and helped properly send out the old stadium (at least for baseball) with the Indians losing 4-0. Former Indians hurler Charles Nagy took the loss in that game.

While some fans might see this as the team simply hiring another organizational yes man, Bere’s familiarity with the organization is a likely a huge factor in this hiring, as the team never wanted to lose Cash as bullpen coach in the first place, even though they apparently knew they probably would, eventually.

Francona said Bere has "big shoes to fill" but his history with, knowledge of CLE organization & pitchers is big plus for bullpen coach job.
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) January 6, 2015

Bere had been spending spring training in uniform as an instructor, so hopefully Bere’s familiarity with the organization’s pitchers can soften the blow of Cash’s departure.

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