Ryne Sandberg will be back in Philadelphia in 2013 and possibly beyond. (US Presswire)

Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg is back in the big leagues and back with his original franchise, the Philadelphia Phillies. Thursday, the team announced Sandberg will serve as the team's third base coach and infield instructor in 2013.

Sandberg, 53, has spent the last six years toiling as a minor-league manager, the last two with Philadelphia's Triple-A team, Lehigh Valley. In his six minor-league seasons with both the Cubs and Phillies organizations, he had a 439-409-1 record (named Minor League Manager of the Year in 2011 by Baseball America) and has been seen as a future big league manager.

Current Phillies manager Charlie Manuel, 68, is under contract through 2013. There has been plenty of speculation that Sandberg will take over the team in 2013.

On Wednesday, the team announced it would not renew the contracts of hitting coach Greg Gross, bench coach Pete Mackanin and first base coach Sam Perlozzo.

The team also announced it promoted Steve Henderson to hitting coach after he spent the last two seasons as the team's minor-league hitting coordinator. Rod Nichols was promoted from Triple-A pitching coach to bullpen coach.

The team also juggled its staff, moving Juan Samuel from third base coach to first base coach while Mick Billmeyer was promoted from bullpen coach to catching coach.

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