Royster: 'I really would like to continue here'

Red Sox third base coach Jerry Royster told WEEI.com by phone Thursday that he hasn't heard any definitive word from the Red Sox regarding his status with the team. Royster's contract expires in November.

"Just hearing everything that's being printed and being told on television. I've talked to them a little bit, but they haven't called me with anything final as of yet," he said from his California home. "Obviously I'm waiting to hear what is going to happen. Nothing official has happened at this point."

The 60-year-old Royster, who was brought to Boston as a third base coach by former manager Bobby Valentine after managing in Korea for three seasons, said he has contacted other organizations, but his preference is to remain with the Red Sox.

"I've inquired a lot, but I really want to see what happens here first. I haven't told anybody anything other than I'm waiting to see what John [Farrell] is doing with his coaching staff," said Royster, who met the new Red Sox manager for the first time during the 2012 season. "I really would like to continue here. It was good for me to be able to start my work with those guys, especially [Will] Middlebrooks and [Jose] Iglesias. But it just depends. I know he has his guys and he might want his guys. But if he wants me, I'll come back to Boston.

"I had a great time. I had a great year. The coaches will tell you that. Bobby will tell you that. It was a fun time for me. It was the most interesting job I've had. Being a coach, it was very difficult. It wasn't easy, by any stretch of the imagination. But I was able to put the things that were going on aside and move on with the task at hand. Believe me, we had a task. People were talking about all the extracurricular stuff that was going on, but to be honest, I was one of the last ones to find out about anything because we were too busy. We were doing our thing."

Royster said that while the dismissal of Valentine, his longtime friend, didn't come as a shock, it did offer some disappointment.

"It's not that I was surprised. It's not like I didn't know what was going on. With that much stuff that was going on, something was bound to happen," Royster said. "It's unfortunate that it happened because it could have been a really good thing. I know Bobby had a tough year. No one made it easy for him. I, myself, I obviously had no problems with Bobby. I was able to do my work. He let me do my work. I just wished it was better for him. He's a friend, but things didn't go well. When things don't go well, the manager gets fired."

Of the members of the Red Sox' 2012 coaching staff, hitting coach Dave Magadan has signed with the Rangers, while bench coach Tim Bogar has been informed he won't be brought back. Bullpen coach Gary Tuck, who was the only member of the group to have contractual control for the 2013 season, was still deciding on a return as of earlier this week.

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