Mets plan to retain entire coaching staff

NEW YORK -- When Mets manager Terry Collins steps back in the dugout for his fourth season with the club next year, he will do so with a familiar cast of characters by his side. The Mets are expected to invite back all six of their big league coaches, according to a source.

Pitching coach Dan Warthen, hitting coach Dave Hudgens, first-base coach Tom Goodwin, third-base coach Tim Teufel, bench coach Bob Geren and bullpen coach Ricky Bones are all expected to receive offers to return. All have been on Collins' coaching staff for at least the past two seasons.

Assuming all six accept their contract offers, that leaves no obvious openings for Triple-A Las Vegas manager Wally Backman, who otherwise would have been a candidate to join the staff. General manager Sandy Alderson said last week that if no big league roles came available, he would invite Backman back to manage Vegas.

Warthen, the Mets' longest-tenured coach, joined the staff alongside former manager Jerry Manuel in 2008. Mets pitchers combined for a 3.77 ERA under his tutelage this year, which was 13th in the league, compared to 4.09 a year ago and 4.19 in 2011.

Hudgens joined the Mets shortly after Collins' hiring in late 2011, quickly implementing his organization-wide philosophies of plate discipline and selective hitting. To that end, the Mets' walk and strikeout totals both increased from 2012, though the team's overall offense has decreased each season since 2011.

The Mets could make an official announcement regarding their coaches as soon as Monday, when they are scheduled to announce Collins' two-year contract extension.