Red Sox select Bogar to replace Alicea on staff

TIM BOGARJack-of-all-trades

Instead of the multitude of tasks he performed last season with the Tampa Bay Rays, Tim Bogar will get to focus on coaching first base and working with the infielders next season, after being named yesterday to replace Luis Alicea as the Red Sox' first base coach.

"It was a very unique situation where I got to deal with very different areas of the game I hadn't been involved with, the scouting side of it, the front office," Bogar said yesterday in a conference call, describing his former job. "But also dealing with the major league staff, and going over the game from the previous night. It opened up my eyes to a lot of situations that happen on this level.

"In saying all that, I also missed being on the field, the emotion of being with the players, the teaching aspect of it, and having a direct impact as the game progresses. I'm really looking forward to that again."

Bogar, 44, spent a year with the Rays, for whom he was an infield and base running instructor in addition to his other duties. Before that, Bogar worked as a minor league manager for four seasons in the Indians and Astros organizations. He made three postseason appearances and compiled a 289-200 record. With Akron, the Indians' Double A affiliate, in 2006, he was named the Eastern League Manager of the Year.

Bogar played in the majors for nine years with the Mets, Astros, and Dodgers, mostly as a shortstop.

"I already sent him some e-mails this morning," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "It's not rocket science. Baseball getting played correctly is all we're trying to do. In the course of this process, we've already spoken to Tim about getting some of his opinions, too. He'll be in charge of the infield play, he'll coach first, and be in charge of how we align ourselves defensively in the infield. Just like in the past, Tim will be in charge of doing our infield drills and fundamentals in spring training. There will be a lot of give-and-take over the next couple months."

Other than Alicea, the Sox' coaching staff remains intact, including pitching coach John Farrell, who declined to interview for the Mariners' managerial vacancy, bench coach Brad Mills, and third base coach DeMarlo Hale, who did interview for the Seattle position, as well as hitting coach Dave Magadan and bullpen coach Gary Tuck.

"It's a great honor not only to join the Red Sox organization, but to work for a manager of Tito's stature," Bogar said. "I'm really looking forward to it, hopefully bringing something to his staff that can help and make the Red Sox a better team than they already are. It was a great process. I really enjoyed going through it. I really look forward to spending some time with the Boston Red Sox."

The Sox acquired righthanded reliever Wes Littleton from the Rangers for two players to be named later or cash considerations. Because Littleton is out of options, the return to the Rangers is not expected to be high.

Littleton, 26, went 0-0 with a 6.00 ERA in 18 innings with the Rangers last season, and 7-1 with a 4.01 ERA and six saves in 44 appearances with Triple A Oklahoma. Littleton, who is effective against righthanded batters, had a 1.73 ERA in 33 games with Texas in 2006, allowing righties to hit only .157. The Sox now have 38 players on their 40-man roster.

The Boston chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America announced that Jim Rice is the recipient of the Emil Fuchs Award for long and meritorious service to baseball. Rice will receive the award, given in honor of the former Boston Braves owner, at the BBWAA's annual dinner Jan. 8 at the Westin Waterfront Hotel.

Amalie Benjamin can be reached at abenjamin@globe.com.