Rays minor league pitching coach Neil Allen and former Twin Carl "Big Train" Willis have emerged as the finalists to coach Twins pitchers, according to a source with knowledge of the search.

Allen, 56, pitched for the Mets, Cardinals, Yankees, White Sox and Indians during an 11-year career, going 58-70 with a 3.88 ERA. He made 434 career appearances, 59 as a starter. He's been a minor league pitching coach since 1996, except for spending 2005 as Yankees bullpen coach. He spent the past eight seasons as the pitching coach of the Class AAA Durham Bulls of the Tampa Bay Rays system.

Willis, 53, pitched for the Twins, Reds, White Sox and Tigers during a nine-year career. He was 20-10 with a 3.65 ERA in five seasons with the Twins. He spent 2003-09 as Indians pitching coach and the past five seasons as Mariners pitching coach.

Also, Eddie Guardado is set to become Twins bullpen coach, a source with knowledge of the Twins search said.

Guardado, 44, pitched for the Twins from 1993-2003, taking over as closer his final two years with the club.

He has spent recent years in Fort Myers working as a special instructor.

Willis

Guardado will join hitting coach Tom Brunansky, assistant hitting coach Rudy Hernandez and third base coach Gene Glynn as known members of manager Paul Molitor's first coaching staff.

Guardado pitched 17 seasons in the majors, going 46-61 with a 4.31 ERA and 187 saves. In 12 seasons with the Twins, Guardado was 37-48, 4.53 with 116 saves. He was inducted into the Twins Hall of Fame in 2013.