As for managing, he’s no way-Rod
Despite CC Sabathia’s endorsement, you won’t be seeing Alex Rodriguez managing the Yankees next season.
“I will say that being a manager for the New York Yankees is almost like POTUS,” A-Rod said after some laughs on Sabathia’s Players’ Tribune podcast. “It’s like one of those jobs that everybody and anybody should or would pay attention to because the New York Yankees are the greatest franchise in sports — not only in America, but in the entire globe. And whether you’re in China or Dubai or Australia, everybody knows that logo — even if you’re not a baseball fan — you understand that (the) New York Yankees are the best franchise in the greatest city in the world.
“So I do wish them luck. I know that they have I think like 14 names on the list, and I do wish Hal Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman best of luck.”
As for managing in the future, A-Rod said, “I’ve never thought about that. I’ve always thought about one day ownership could be interesting.”
Sabathia, for the record, thinks A-Rod would be great at the job.
“His baseball IQ is off the charts,” Sabathia said. “I’ve never seen or played or talked to a player that’s as smart as he is.”
Cashman wouldn’t rule out anyone for the vacancy — including A-Rod. Granted, there’s no indications he’s actually a candidate. And obviously the relationship between ex-player and team has been a wild and crazy roller coaster ride.
A-Rod spent last season as a $21 million special adviser to Steinbrenner.
THOMSON UP FIRST
The process of finding Joe Girardi’s replacement is underway.
Rob Thomson, the ex-skipper’s bench coach, was slated to become the first candidate to be interviewed for the Yankees’ managerial vacancy on Wednesday, a source confirmed. Ken Rosenthal was first with the news.
Thomson, 54, has been with the organization in a variety of capacities for nearly three decades. He served as Girardi’s right-hand man in 2008, and from 2015-17, and is known for his high baseball acumen.
“Everytime ‘Topper’ has a meeting, something (that he addresses) happens in the game we’re about to play,” Clint Frazier recently told MLB Network Radio. “It’s almost like he knows everything the other team is capable of. He’s the most aware guy on the field for us.”
Added Frazier: “He’s like a dad to you.”
Thomson, a native of Canada, played in the minors with Detroit from 1985-88 before transitioning to coaching and joining the Bombers in 1990 as the third-base coach for Single-A Ft. Lauderdale and moving up in the ranks. He has been with the MLB staff for a decade. He also served as Yankees third-base coach from 2009-14.
Sources have maintained that it is unlikely any of the coaches on Girardi’s staff would be seriously considered for the vacancy, though Brian Cashman wouldn’t rule anyone out during a teleconference with reporters on Monday.
Cashman recommended a managerial change to Hal Steinbrenner, and cited Girardi’s inability to connect and communicate with his players as the main reason why.