SEATTLE -- Veteran infield coach Perry Hill was hired by the Mariners on Tuesday as manager Scott Servais moves closer to completing his staff for the 2019 season.
Hill, 66, coached first base and worked with the infielders for the Marlins for the past eight years. He'll coach first base for Seattle as well.
"I've been in one spot for a while and had a good run there," Hill said from his offseason home in Rochester Hills, Mich. "It was time to move on. Everybody I've talked to there with the Mariners has been transparent and honest. They have a plan. I look at it as an opportunity and challenge. I'm looking forward to it. Seattle is a good baseball town and I'm excited to be a part of it."
Hill will be reunited with Mariners infielder Dee Gordon, whom he coached for three years in Miami. Gordon posted an Instragram photo last week of he and Hill together in Marlins' uniforms with the words: "Back together."
"Dee can get excited with the best of 'em," Hill said. "He called and wanted to know the latest. That particular day we'd come to an agreement, but hadn't announced yet. I told him to keep it on the QT, but I'd be yelling and screaming at him again. … He's full of energy, very coachable and he's talented. Those are the kind of guys you want."
After shifting him to center field at the start of last season, the Mariners plan to move Gordon back to the infield next year, though it remains to be seen if that is at second base or shortstop. Hill said Gordon definitely has the talent to play short, though he's always felt his best fit was second base.
"I think he could play shortstop, yes," Hill said. "It's always been my theory that it takes a special player to go from short to second. At shortstop, everything is in front of you. When you go to second, three quarters of what you do goes against you and it takes a special athlete. He was able to make the change seamlessly. No doubt he could play short, in my opinion. But I think his best position is second base and I think he'd tell you the same thing."
Chris Prieto, who coached first base last year while also overseeing Seattle's outfielders, will replace the departing Scott Brosius as the third-base coach. Brosius was asked to return to the staff by Servais, but chose to pursue other opportunities.
The addition of Hill leaves hitting coach as the only unfilled position. Edgar Martinez stepped down after three and a half seasons as the hitting coach to take a new role as an organizational hitting instructor. D-backs assistant hitting coach Tim Laker is expected to replace Martinez, according to sources, but that contract has not been finalized.
The Mariners already hired Cardinals' Minor League pitching coordinator Paul Davis to replace Mel Stottlemyre Jr. as pitching coach after Stottlemyre was let go at the end of the season.
Bench coach Manny Acta, assistant coach Jim Brower and bullpen coach Brian DeLunas are all expected to return, though Servais is believed to still be finalizing how his pitching staff will be aligned.
In addition to Miami, Hill has been a Major League coach with Texas (1992-95), Detroit (1997-99), Montreal (2000-2001) and Pittsburgh (2009). He has helped develop five Gold Glove infielders during his coaching tenure, including Gordon when he was a second baseman with the Marlins in 2015.

"Perry is one of the most respected infield coaches in the game," Servais said. "I'm excited to add him to our coaching staff. He brings an impressive resume of having coached outstanding defensive seasons and Gold Glove winners."
The Marlins' eight best fielding percentage seasons came while Hill was coaching and he has led three different teams to league-best fielding percentage marks: Miami (.988 in 2017), Pittsburgh (.988 in 2009) and Detroit (.985 in 1997). In 2017, he was named Infield Coach of the Year by MLB Network.