Athletics pitching coach Curt Young turned down a contract offer from Oakland that included a substantial raise on Sunday, saying he wanted to pursue other opportunities in baseball. He interviewed with the Red Sox a day later and has emerged as the leading candidate to replace John Farrell on the coaching staff. ?Obviously, Curt meant a lot to all of us, and we wish him well wherever he goes,?? closer Andrew Bailey told the San Francisco Chronicle. ?Someone is getting a great coach.?? Dallas Braden told the paper, ?This came as a complete shock. He?s been that accessible, everyone?s-favorite-uncle figure, a guiding light for us. He taught me how to study within the game, what to look for. He always understood my role and put me in the best position to succeed.?? Young?s biggest competition could come from Sox advance scout Mike Cather, pitching coach for Double A Portland from 2007-09.

Athletics pitching coach Curt Young is leaving the club to pursue other options within the majors. The A's said Sunday that Young decided not to accept the team's contract offer for 2011. Young spent 27 years in the Oakland organization, including 12 years as a player and eight years as a minor league coach.

The Athletics have hired Joel Skinner as bench coach and Gerald Perry as hitting coach as part of an overhaul of their coaching staff, according to an ESPN.com report. The team announced the changes to manager Bob Geren's staff on Wednesday. Skinner replaces Tye Waller, who will be the first-base coach. Waller replaces Todd Steverson.

The A's made a handful of housekeeping moves on Thursday, outrighting outfielder Jeremy Hermida and relievers Ross Wolf and Brad Kilby to Triple-A Sacramento. The former two elected free agency.