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Williams, Porter added to coaching staff

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Matt Williams has been a part of the D-backs organization since 1997. (Barry Gossage/Getty)

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By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com

11/11/09 11:50 AM EST

PHOENIX -- Matt Williams and Bo Porter will join the D-backs' coaching staff in 2010, the team announced on Wednesday.

Williams will coach first base and work with the infielders while Porter will serve as third-base coach and tutor the team's outfielders. In addition, the club announced it had reached an agreement on a new contract with bullpen coach Glenn Sherlock.

Williams and Porter replace Lorenzo Bundy and Chip Hale, who were both dismissed by manager A.J. Hinch when the 2009 season ended.

When he took over for Bob Melvin on May 8, Hinch inherited bench coach Kirk Gibson, Hale, Bundy and Sherlock. Hitting coach Rick Schu was dismissed at the same time as Melvin and pitching coach Bryan Price resigned.

To replace Schu and Price, Hinch promoted Jack Howell and Mel Stottlemyre Jr. from the farm system.

Gibson agreed to a two-year contract extension following the season and Howell and Stottlemyre are under contract through 2010. Sherlock was asked to return at that time and agreed to, but the two sides had not formalized a contract.

Williams has been a part of the D-backs organization from the start. He was acquired in a trade from the Indians following the 1997 Expansion Draft and played in Arizona from '98 until retiring after being released in 2003.

Since that time he has filled a variety of roles, including special assistant to the president and CEO as well as serving as a member of the broadcast team doing games on both television and radio. In 2007, he was the interim manager for Double-A Mobile taking over for Brett Butler for the final two months of that season. Williams is also a minority owner in the club.

The 43-year-old Williams, who was credited for helping D-backs third baseman Mark Reynolds improve defensively this season after working with him throughout the spring, expressed his desire to coach in an interview with MLB.com last month.

"I've had the opportunity to work with some of this talent on a temporary basis and enjoyed it," Williams said at the time. "I'm most comfortable in uniform on the field working with players."

Porter, 37, has a long history with Hinch and made a name for himself in the coaching ranks over the past three seasons with the Marlins.

With Florida, Porter coached third base and worked with the club's outfielders. He was offered a one-year contract to return in 2010, but turned it down. He was scheduled to manage Mesa in the Arizona Fall League this year, but when he elected not to return to the Marlins, the team gave the spot to Brandon Hyde.

Taken by the Cubs in the 40th round of the 1993 First-Year Player Draft, Porter played professionally for 10 seasons, including parts of three in the big leagues. He played football and baseball at the University of Iowa and has a degree in communications studies.

Sherlock, has spent 28 years in professional baseball and is the only member of the 1998 coaching staff still with the team. The 49-year-old former backstop is a respected teacher of catchers and is partly responsible for the defensive improvements made by Miguel Montero.

Steve Gilbert is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.