INDIAN WELLS, Calif. -- Twenty-five years ago, John Farrell and Juan Nieves were winter ball teammates in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Through the years, they've remained friends and in contact -- during the season and in the offseason, too.
On Wednesday, they became co-workers.
Nieves, who spent the last five seasons as he bullpen coach for the Chicago White Sox, was hired as the fifth Red Sox pitching coach since the end of the 2010 season, teaming up with Farrell.
"We felt like Juan's match to the staff we have was a good one,'' said Farrell in a conference call to announce the hiring. "There are a number of pitchers who have flourished with him as the bullpen coach. This is a really good fit for the Red Sox.''
Nieves was chosen over Baltimore Orioles minor-league pitching coordinator Rick Peterson, Miami Marlins pitching coach Randy St. Claire and Kansas City Royals bullpen coach Steve Foster.
"This is an easy fit -- I'm only changing Sox,'' joked Nieves. "Knowing John for a long time, playing on the same team with him, watching him in Cleveland and having that connection with him, made it a good fit.''
Boston Red Sox
Nieves is credited with helping a number of young relievers succeed with the White Sox, including Chris Sale -- since transitioned to the rotation -- rookie closer Addison Reed and Nate Jones.
Nieves has been a protege of Don Cooper, the highly-respected pitching coach of the White Sox.
"He's a qualified guy,'' said Cooper of Nieves. "He earned his chance and I couldn't be happier. It's nice to see good people get opportunities.
"The only knock against him is that he doesn't have experience. But how do you get experience if you don't get a chance? He's going to be missed, but I'm happy for him.''
Nieves credited Cooper with teaching him the value of ''establishing structure and creating stability'' for the staff.
Next season will mark the third season in a row that the Red Sox will break in a new pitching coach from outside the organization and Farrell stressed the importance of creating some stability and continuity in the position.
"There's no doubt that stability is needed,'' said Farrell, who was the last Red Sox pitching coach to serve more than one year in the job. "If you look at any situation with continuity to it, you have a greater chance of success. By being with pitchers for a number of years, you know about a pitcher's delivery, how he performs in tight situations and that continuity is important.''