Brad Ausmus’ name is already out there for a possible move to Houston, and if the Astros come calling, the Yankees would have a bench coach vacancy to fill.
Ausmus has spent the past three seasons as Aaron Boone’s bench coach in New York, but his connection to the Astros makes him a natural candidate for their open managerial job. Houston moved on from Joe Espada after an early postseason exit, and Ausmus has history with that opening.
He was a finalist for the Astros’ managerial job in 2020, before Dusty Baker got the nod, and he also interviewed for the club’s general manager position in the past. This time, the former Astros catcher could wind up back in Houston as their next manager.
If that happens, the Yankees have a few paths they could take behind Boone.
The dream name is Jorge Posada. He won four World Series championships as the Yankees’ starting catcher and was part of the “Core Four,” which makes him the kind of familiar face that could matter if New York wants to shift the tone around the clubhouse.
But there’s a catch: Posada recently said in an interview this week that he doesn’t feel welcome around the team and still carries uncomfortable feelings about how his Yankees playing days ended. For now, that makes the fit feel remote.
A more practical answer might already be in the room. Luis Rojas is currently the Yankees’ third base coach, and his résumé includes managerial experience from his time leading the New York Mets from 2020-2021.
He joined the Yankees in 2022 and looks like the most realistic internal option if the job opens up. Rojas has also been in the mix elsewhere, interviewing for the Baltimore Orioles’ managerial opening last offseason.
If the Yankees want to look outside the organization, George Lombard Sr. is another logical name. He has been the Detroit Tigers’ bench coach since the 2021 season, and he also has a personal tie to the Yankees through his son, George Lombard Jr., the club’s young shortstop. That father-son angle would be easy to imagine in the Bronx, though prying Lombard Sr. away could be tricky because it would amount to a lateral move.
There’s also a promotion-from-within route. Shelley Duncan, the manager at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, has been in charge of the RailRiders since 2023 and earned International League Manager of the Year honors in 2025 after guiding the club to 87 wins. Duncan has also played a role in the development of young Yankees such as Ben Rice and Cam Schlittler over the past several seasons.
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One name that could complicate the market is Teruaki Sato, whose Triple Crown-winning season has put him on the radar of clubs chasing an immediate answer. If he reaches free agency, the Yankees are likely to be among the teams watching closely, especially with the Phillies and Red Sox also eyeing the same type of fix, which could quickly turn a thin third-base pool into one of the winters more competitive bidding zones. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees Offseason Suddenly Centers On Two High-Stakes Decisions
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There is also a familiar rival lurking in the background. Bowden expects the Yankees and Red Sox to get involved in a bidding war for NPB player Teruaki Sato, even though there have been reports suggesting New York may hesitate because of defensive concerns. For a Yankees team trying to balance urgency with roster fit, that creates a pretty clear offseason tension: do they pay to preserve what they already have, or dive into a market chase that could get expensive fast? [Read more 🡒]
Yankees Have Two AL East Roster Holes They Can't Ignore
The Yankees are heading into the offseason with a familiar kind of urgency, the sort that comes after an October exit forces a hard look at a roster that was close but not complete. Following their ALDS elimination, they are expected to be active in free agency, and the front office has more than one area to sort through before spring training arrives. A batch of relievers are set to hit the market, but the needs go beyond the bullpen and into places that can shape a daily lineup.
Backup catcher, third base and center field all loom as spots that need attention, and the Yankees figure to have options if they want to patch those holes with outside help. Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Cedric Mullins are among the names being tied to possible upgrades, which gives the club a sense of the kind of roster flexibility it may seek. The bigger question is how aggressive they want to be in fixing multiple issues at once, because this winter feels like one where standing still would be the easiest way to fall a step behind. [Read more 🡒]