Source: Twins tab Guardado as bullpen coach

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Twins are close to adding a fourth coach under new manager Paul Molitor, as the club is set to hire Eddie Guardado as bullpen coach, according to a Major League source.

The Twins, however, have not made an official announcement and one isn't expected until Thursday. So far, the Twins have only announced the hires of hitting coach Tom Brunansky, assistant hitting coach Rudy Hernandez and third-base coach Gene Glynn.

Guardado, 44, is another hire with ties to the organization, as he spent 12 of his 17 years in the Majors with the Twins and served as a special instructor for the club at Spring Training in recent years. Guardado, affectionately known as "Everyday Eddie," during his playing career, was inducted into the Twins Hall of Fame in 2013.

The left-handed Guardado had a 4.53 ERA while in Minnesota from 1993-2003 and '08, while compiling 116 saves, including a career-high 45 to lead the American League in 2002. He's the Twins' all-time leader in games, appearing in 648 throughout his career, in addition to recording at least 60 appearances in eight different seasons.

The two-time All-Star became Minnesota's closer from 2001-03 and helped lead the club to a pair division titles. He's also the franchise's all-time leader in innings (579) for a reliever, and he ranks second among Twins relievers in strikeouts (550) and wins (34).

Guardado, who resides in California, has never been a part of a Major League coaching staff. But Guardado has been lauded for his ability to connect with pitchers during his time as a special instructor in Spring Training. He's also very familiar with Molitor, as the two were teammates in Minnesota from 1996-98.