Hale leaves O's to become Blue Jays bench coach

DeMarlo Hale, who interviewed for the Blue Jays' vacant bench coach position earlier this week, is headed to Toronto to fill that role in 2013, an industry source told MLB.com Saturday morning.

Hale, who served as the Orioles' third-base coach last season, was offered a contract to return to Buck Showalter's staff and was the only unsigned member of last year's staff as his name has floated around several vacant positions this winter.

Before joining the Orioles, Hale coached alongside current Red Sox manager John Farrell when they both worked on Terry Francona's staff. Hale left Boston to join Showalter in Baltimore last season.

Hale's departure is a big loss for the Orioles. A well-respected baseball man, Hale has been considered for managerial jobs in the past and has been a lauded addition to Showalter's staff. Popular in the clubhouse and one of Showalter's most trusted aides, Hale's contract with the Orioles expired at the end of the season, and the organization hoped it would be able to keep him.