"After only one season, Curt Young's tenure with the Red Sox may be finished.

Even though he has one more year remaining on his contract, Young confirmed yesterday that he has received permission to talk to the Oakland Athletics about their vacant pitching coach job. If Young departs, the Red Sox will begin next season with their third pitching coach in as many years.

Young served the A's in that role from 2004-10 before joining the Sox last November to replace John Farrell, who left to become the manager of the Blue Jays.

Under Young's watch, Sox pitchers combined for a 4.20 ERA, ninth in the AL. And the pitching staff, particularly the starters, faltered badly in the last month. Seven starters notched an overall 7.08 ERA, as the Sox endured the worst September collapse in history."