CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Indians did not consider Jason Bere as a replacement for pitching coach Mickey Callaway, which may have led to his surprising departure from the team's coaching staff.

Bere, 46, just finished his third year as the team's bullpen coach. Previously, he spent nine years as a special assistant to the Indians' baseball operations department scouting, evaluating and instructing the organization's pitchers.

Callaway left the Indians after five years as their pitching coach to manage the New York Mets. He was named the Mets' manager on Monday. The Indians hired former Boston pitching coach Carl Willis on Thursday to replace Callaway.

Bere reportedly was not considered for the pitching coach job. He was told the Indians were "moving in a different direction." Bere reportedly has been in contact with Callaway and could interview to be the Mets pitching coach.

Under manager Terry Francona, the Tribe's coaching staff has been a picture of stability. But this has been an offseason of change following the team winning 102 games during the regular season only to be eliminated in the first round of the postseason.

First came Callaway's departure. On Tuesday Matt Quatraro, assistant hitting coach, left to become Tampa Bay's third-base coach. Willis was hired on Thursday and word of Bere's departure surfaced on Friday.

The Indians' bullpen, with Bere as its coach, posted the AL's top ERA at 2.89 this year. They ranked third in 2016 at 3.45 and second in 2015 at 3.12.

Bere pitched 11 years in the big leagues.