Chavez on board as assistant hitting coach

The Yankees announced Aaron Boone’s finalized coaching staff Tuesday night. As expected, minor-league hitting coordinator Dillon Lawson replaces Marcus Thames as the hitting coach and Desi Druschel will go from being the team’s minor-league manager of pitch development to an assistant pitching coach.

Perhaps most interesting was that they added former big-league third baseman Eric Chavez as an assistant hitting coach. In 17 MLB seasons, Chavez slashed .268/.342/.475. He spent the 2011-12 seasons with the Yankees, after his 13 years with the A’s. He won a Silver Slugger in 2002.

After two seasons with the Diamondbacks, Chávez retired in July 2014 and quickly returned to the Bronx as a special-assignment scout with the Yankees. He left for the Angels’ front office in 2016, his name among those up-and-comers among front office and managerial candidates. He managed Triple-A for the Angels as well as doing some broadcasting.

As the Yankees are trying to diversify their lineup with more lefty-hitters, the 44-year old Chavez will give them a successful left-hander to work with in the cages.

Casey Dykes, the Triple-A Scranton hitting coach, will join Chavez as an assistant to Lawson.

The club also confirmed the hiring of former Mets’ manager Luis Rojas as third base/outfield coach and announced that longtime minor-league coach and field coordinator Travis Chapman will replace Reggie Willets as the first base coach.

Returning to the staff are bench coach Carlos Mendoza, pitching coach Matt Blake, longtime bullpen coach Mike Harkey and catching coordinator and quality-control coach Tanner Swanson.