Yankees may consider an outside hire
It’s possible that none of the internal candidates for the Yankees’ managerial vacancy check all the boxes Brian Cashman is looking for to replace Joe Girardi. After all, as Ken Rosenthal first reported Friday — and confirmed by the News — the Yankees granted permission to all MLB teams to talk to all of their coaches. However, there may be some highly-thought-of minor-league coaches they’ll want to keep.
Josh Paul, the 42-year-old catching instructor, is considered a “rising star” by many in the organization, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Bombers added him to the MLB coaching staff — even if it’s not as the manager.
Paul was instrumental in the development of Gary Sanchez at the minor-league level. And the organization wasn’t happy with the way Girardi handled the 24-year-old catcher this season, even if the former skipper’s criticisms of Sanchez seemed fair given his defensive deficiencies, both with blocking balls in the dirt and receiving throws at the plate.
Sanchez improving in both those facets will be integral going forward, which is why keeping Paul makes a lot of sense.
Class A-Tampa manager Jay Bell, Triple-A Scranton pitching coach Tommy Phelps and outfield instructor Reggie Willits are three other minor-league coaches highly-thought-of by the Yankees, and could be considered for the staff.
All of the contracts of Girardi’s coaches expire at the end of the month. Their pitching staff produced strong numbers, a product of Larry Rothschild, whom the front office remains high on. So it’s possible Rothschild could be back if he isn’t scooped up by another club.
Hitting coaches Alan Cockrell and Marcus Thames could be the other exceptions in terms of guys that could somehow stay.
It’s more unclear, however, what will happen to bench coach Rob Thomson, first-base coach Tony Pena, third-base coach Joe Espada and bullpen coach Mike Harkey.
Thomson, who has been in the organization since 1990 in a variety of roles, has a high baseball acumen, and was thought to be a possible candidate for the managerial vacancy. But allowing him to speak to other teams doesn’t make it seem that way.
Espada, according to reports, is a possibility to serve as bench coach in Houston or Boston.
One person who isn’t interested in the Yankees’ job is Tim Naehring, according to ESPN. Naehring, a trusted, high-ranking member of the front office who may eventually be a candidate for other GM jobs, is thought to want to be close to his family in Cincinnati, and enjoys his current front-office role.
The Bombers announced they were not bringing Girardi back for an 11th season on Thursday. Their search remains open, with the organization said to prefer someone in the mold of A.J. Hinch and Dave Roberts — meaning younger, hungrier, more relatable to players, analytically-driven and capable of dealing with the media while serving as the organization’s voice on a daily basis. These days, front offices feel more empowered in data-driven, on-field decisionmaking than in the past, which factors in as well.
Some outside names that have been mentioned include former Phillies manager Pete Mackanin, former Royals manager Trey Hillman, ex-Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long and Raul Ibanez, all of whom have ties to Cashman. Still, Mackanin is 66, Hillman went 152-207 in K.C., Long was fired by Cashman in 2014, and Ibanez, while he is an intriguing fit, has no previous coaching or managerial experience.
It’s also possible the next manager emerges out of nowhere, similar to Mickey Callaway with the Mets. With Bill Madden