Paul Hoover top candidate for final spot on Rays’ staff

Paul Hoover in action during his 2001-02 stint with the Devil Rays. [Times files]ST. PETERSBURG – The Rays are close to filling the final spot on their big-league coaching staff, with minor-league catching coordinator Paul Hoover emerging as the leading candidate.

The Rays are believed to have interviewed about a half-dozen candidates, mostly internal, for the field coordinator position vacated when Rocco Baldelli was hired to manage the Twins. Former Rays Triple-A manager Jared Sandberg declined the field coordinator post and took a similar job with his hometown Mariners. An announcement is expected next week.

Hoover, 42, played 14 years mostly in the minors at the Triple-A level, reaching…