As soon as the off-season went underway, the New York Yankees lost two of its pivotal coaching staffers. Firstly, interim hitting coach Sean Casey refused to return for the 2024 season, citing personal commitments. The Yankee front office was keen to extend his stay, but Casey chose otherwise, saying that the timing wasn’t right for him.
Carlos Mendoza, the Yankees bench coach and Aaron Boone’s trusted deputy, followed Casey’s cue. He signed with the New York Mets as a manager for the 2024 season and beyond. While the front office reached a consensus on the hitting coach, interviews for Boone’s deputy are still underway. Meanwhile, rumors have emerged that the former Cubs manager allegedly refused the Bombers’ offer.
David Ross Reportedly Turned Down Yankees Bench Coach’s Job Offer!
Aaron Boone, the New York Yankees manager, was left devastated by the exit of bench coach Carlos Mendoza, who worked under him for five long years. Boone considered him a brother, and it coined it as a ‘personal loss.’ Having said that, the show must go on, and the Bronx Bombers must move on to find a replacement. The New York Post learned that former Yankee pitcher Andrew Bailey apparently interviewed for the vacancy on Monday. Moreover, a few media outlets also claimed that Yanks allegedly approached former Chicago Cubs manager David Ross. Ross, who served the Cubs for three seasons, was sacked this year owing to unsatisfactory results.
Also, Ross is familiar with Aaron Boone, as the duo worked together for ESPN several years ago. Thus, the New York Yankees deemed David Ross a perfect fit. However, Ross reportedly turned the offer down. As per the Athletic, the former skipper thinks he is good enough to manage a major league team and intends to stick in that capacity. The bench coach’ role seems a sort of demotion, and Ross does not want to serve under any manager. With that, the Bronx Bombers’ hunt for a new bench coach continues. But, the early indications suggest that the Bombers are keen on a reunion with a former player. The front office feels that the induction of a friendly and respected face would change the mood of the clubhouse. Now, whether it will be Andrew Bailey or any other familiar face remains to be seen.
James Rowson Reunites With Yanks In New Role Ahead Of 2024 Season!
The New York Yankees formally announced the onboarding of the team’s new hitting coach, James Rowson, on Monday. Rowson served as the Tigers’ assistant hitting coach in 2023 and previously remained a part of the Bronx family. Around 2016, he worked with Aaron Judge as a minor league coordinator and developed extensive coaching experience.
In the major league, Rowson worked with the Chicago Cubs, Minnesota Twins, Miami Marlins, and Detroit Tigers. James Rowson will carry the responsibility of reviving the Yankees’ offensive production in 2024 on his shoulders. The team finished at the bottom of every other hitting chart in 2023, which proved to be the primary cause of the collapse. Thus, big challenges await Rowson as coaching in the Bronx is a different ball game altogether.