The Yankees’ coaching staff is suddenly in motion, and the openings are piling up fast.
Brad Ausmus is now the Houston Astros’ manager, and James Rowson has moved on to the San Francisco Giants as their “offensive coordinator,” leaving New York with vacancies at bench coach and hitting coach. The clock is already ticking, too: the Yankees have just over three weeks to fill those spots while they can still communicate with players before the lockout.
On the hitting side, one name already in the mix is Aaron Bates. The Yankees have spoken to him after he left the Dodgers following eight years on the offensive side of the ball in Los Angeles. Bates spent the past eight seasons as part of a Dodgers operation that has been widely successful, and his departure came after he couldn’t work out a contract with the club.
The bench coach search has produced a few more familiar names. Joe Espada, who was dismissed as Astros manager, has come up repeatedly as someone who has kept a strong relationship with the Yankees since leaving. Rob Thomson is also out there after being fired by the Phillies midseason.
There are also some more unexpected possibilities. Chelsea Janes of SNY noted that the Yankees have interviewed Red Sox pitching coach Andrew Bailey in the past, though his connection to Craig Breslow remains a question. David Bell, who managed the Reds from 2018 until Terry Francona’s arrival, recently left the Blue Jays’ front office and could be looking for a return to the dugout.
Right now, Espada looks like the early favorite for the bench coach job. The hitting coach role is less clear, but Bates stands out as a strong candidate unless the Yankees decide to go in a completely different direction.
In Other News...
Anthony Santander Put The Blue Jays In A Spot They Had To Address
Anthony Santanders off-field misstep quickly became a Blue Jays issue this week, after the outfielder posted and then deleted anti-Muslim content on his Instagram account. The reaction was immediate, with fans and baseball officials criticizing the posts and Toronto moving to separate itself from the comments as the story spread beyond social media.
The Blue Jays issued a statement distancing the organization from Santanders posts, and general manager Ross Atkins publicly condemned the remarks. The episode also drew attention around the league, with Dodgers special advisor Farhan Zaidi saying on a podcast that he was disappointed by Santanders actions, leaving Toronto to deal with the fallout from a situation it did not ask for but could not ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Offseason Aggression May Start With A Big Outfield Swing
The Blue Jays are heading into an offseason that figures to be shaped by urgency, and the outfield looks like one of the first places they could try to make a real splash. With Toronto aiming to improve for the 2027 season, the front office is expected to be active in free agency, and the need is easy to see after an offense that struggled last season. Any upgrade there would carry extra weight if the club has to plan for life without George Springer, whose future remains part of the conversation.
Seiya Suzuki has already surfaced as a possible fit in right field, which tells you the kind of swing Toronto may be willing to take if the right player becomes available. The Blue Jays are not just looking for depth or a minor tweak, but for impact, and that search could define how aggressive this winter becomes. If they are going to reshape the lineup and raise the ceiling of the roster, the outfield is likely where the first major move starts to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Blue Jays Could Be Eyeing A Bigger Roster Shakeup Than Expected
Following the GM Meetings, the Blue Jays have mostly stuck to the margins so far, making only minor league moves while the bigger roster questions wait in the wings. But with a potential MLB lockout looming in December, Toronto may not have the luxury of a slow build, and the front office could be pushed toward a more aggressive reshaping of the roster before the calendar turns.
That means a few familiar names are suddenly part of the conversation, including pitchers Gage Stanifer, Johnny King and Nolan Perry, along with position players Ernie Clement, Nathan Lukes and Andrs Gimnez. Their recent performances have kept them on the radar, but the Blue Jays are also weighing how any pursuit of free agents might affect those decisions, leaving the picture fluid as the club tries to balance present needs with whatever comes next. [Read more 🡒]