UPDATE, 8:08: There may not be anything official on this until Robinson's contract with the Astros expires Oct. 31, but it's on track to happen. Sounds like with the nine minor-league teams - in the U.S. and Latin America - Rays like the idea of having two coordinators.

DEVELOPING: The Rays have hired former Astros pitching coach Dewey Robinson to their minor-league staff, according to Houston officials. The Rays haven't released anything on the hire.

Robinson told astros.com he will be the co-minor league pitching coordinator, presumably joining Dick Bosman, in working with the pitchers on the nine minor-league affiliates. Robinson was left go after two seasons on the job in Houston as manager Cecil Cooper was fired, and offered a minor-league position with the Astros, but opted to look elsewhere. Robinson, 54, lives in Sarasota and said the Rays job was a good fit.

"It's a very comfortable position for me and a real good organization," Robinson told astros.com. "They're a small-market team and have to do everything through Latin America and the draft, and they have produced big league players through the system. It has to come from within (the organization), and it's exciting for me to get back into that."

Robinson, who worked in the minor leagues previously for Houston, is the second former Astros pitching coach on the Rays staff; major-league pitching coach Jim Hickey also held that post before joining the Rays.

Robinson pitched briefly in the majors for the White Sox, going 2-2, 4.05 in 30 games from 1979-81.