Phils promote Young to pitching coach

PHILADELPHIA >> The Philadelphia Phillies have promoted Chris Young to pitching coach on manager Gabe Kapler’s staff.

Young was the assistant pitching coach last season. He replaces Rick Kranitz, who will not return to the team in 2019.

Dave Lundquist will be the assistant pitching coach. He has been in Philadelphia’s minorleague system the past 11 seasons and was the pitching coach at Triple-A Lehigh Valley last year.

Paco Figueroa will serve as major league outfield/baserunning coach. Figueroa most recently was the minor league hitting coordinator for the Dodgers.

Orioles hire Elias as GM

BALTIMORE >> Astros assistant general manager Mike Elias was hired to rebuild the Baltimore Orioles, who traded many of their star players last season before finishing with the worst record in the majors.

Elias will carry the title of executive vice president and general manager. He will “oversee all baseball operations for the club and have full autonomy to build his staff and make decisions on all baseball matters,” the Orioles said in a statement.

The 35-year-old Elias comes to the Orioles after working as scouting director and assistant GM in Houston, where he helped transform a last-place team into 2017 World Series champions.

Pearce stays with Red Sox

BOSTON >> World Series MVP Steve Pearce is staying with the Red Sox. The journeyman first baseman agreed to a $6.25 million, one-year contract with Boston Friday.

The 35-year-old Pearce was a free agent after completing a $12.5 million, two-year deal that he got from Toronto in December 2016. He earned an additional $150,000 bonus for his selection as World Series MVP.