Red Sox hire former Rays coach Bogar for first base

BOSTON -- The Boston Red Sox have hired former major leaguer and Tampa Bay Rays coach Tim Bogar as their new first base coach.

The 44-year-old replaces Luis Alicea, the only member of last year's staff who was not offered a contract for the 2009 season. Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein announced Bogar's hiring Friday.

Last year, Bogar was an infield and baserunning coach for the 2008 American League champion Rays.

Before joining the Rays, he spent four seasons as a manager in the Cleveland Indians and Houston Astros minor league systems.

Bogar played for the New York Mets, Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers from 1993-2001.