Baltimore Orioles reportedly hire Jose Flores and Tim Cossins

Manager Brandon Hyde and the Baltimore Orioles have begun to fill out the major league coaching staff for 2019, bringing aboard Jose Flores and Tim Cossins

Brandon Hyde has made it clear that he’s looking for player development people to fill out the Baltimore Orioles coaching staff in 2019. He’s started the process by reportedly hiring former Phillies first-base coach Jose Flores, and former Cubs minor league instructor Tim Cossins. The Orioles have yet to confirm the hires, which were reported on Thursday by MLB.com’s Joe Trezza, and The Athletic’s Patrick Mooney, respectively.

Hyde is familiar with both Flores and Cossins, having worked with both of them in Chicago’s minor league system from 2012-2014.

Flores served as the Phillies first-base coach in 2018. Prior to that, he was a minor league infield coordinator for the Cubs from 2012-2017, and he has also served as a manager in the Puerto Rican Winter League, and as the manager for the Puerto Rican national team.

Based on his time spent managing and his time developing minor leaguers in the Cubs system, which is one of the best in baseball, it’s fair to say that Flores will fit well into the Orioles clubhouse.

Cossins has been a minor league instructor with the Cubs since 2012, focusing specifically on catchers. Cossins could be a big influence on Orioles catcher Chance Sisco, who still needs some seasoning at the major league level.

Cossins also spent time in the Marlins organization, managing their Gulf League squad from 2003-2007, posting a .464 winning percentage in 443 games. In Trezza’s report, it’s suggested that Cossins will work on catching strategy with the Orioles, but neither Cossins nor Flores have been assigned a title as the hires aren’t official yet.

We’d expected that Hyde would be looking to bring in people he had connections with, but as recently stated, we weren’t sure if Hyde would be able to bring anyone to Baltimore from Chicago. It’s late in the off-season and poaching employees at this point is tougher than you’d expect it to be; guys like job security, and the earlier they can find work, the better.

But if these reports are accurate, it seems that the Orioles have found two more great baseball people. Flores’ managing experience was likely a big plus for him in the interview process, and it’s something that could help this Orioles team. There will be plenty of young talent in Baltimore next year and having Flores on the staff should benefit the Orioles.

Cossins is much the same. The experience he has coaching and developing Cubs prospects is immensely valuable to this Orioles team. With Sisco and Austin Wynns looking like the most likely candidates to man the backstop in Baltimore in 2019, having an accomplished catching development coach like Cossins in the clubhouse will be integral, especially if the Orioles decide to forego signing a veteran free-agent catcher next year.

If the reports are accurate, the Orioles will have five remaining openings on the coaching staff in Baltimore. The search will more than likely continue into 2019.