Kevin Long has been linked to the Ya✃nkees as Joe Girardi’s successor, but there co♋uld be another position available for him if he isn’t chosen to fill the managerial vacancy.
ꦜAfter not bringing Girardi back last Thu♛rsday, GM Brian Cashman informed all major league clubs they were free to contact any of the Yankees’ coaches for any position.
While that is normal procedure when a mana𒁏ger is let go and coaches contracts haven’t yet expired, it was a strong indication the Yankees’ coaching staff will look a lot different in 2018 than it did in 2017. And one of those changes could be Long returni𒀰ng to The Bronx as the hitting coach.
Long’s con🌼tract with the Mets expires Tuesday, when all of Girardi’s former coaches’ deals are up.
As for the field or possible replacements for Girardi, it added Jerry Hairston Jr. mentioned the former big league player and a member of the 20🥀09 Yankees World Series champions as a candidate.
The Nationals haꦜd an interest in Long, 50, to replace Du✨sty Baker but went with former Cubs bench coach Davey Martinez.
When Long interviewed for the Mets’ managerial opening and was passed over for Mickey Call🥃away, the Mets’ brass indicated Long was welcome to return to Queens, where he has been the hitting coach for the past three seasons. Prior to that, he was the Yankees’ hitting coach from 2007-14. He was fired with a year remaining on his contract and landed with the Mets immediately.
Since Long left, the Yankees have had two hitting coaches. Jeff Pentland filled the role in 2015 and wasn’t renewed after the season. Alan Cockrell, Pentland’s assistant, has been the hitting coach the past two seasons. Former Yankees outfielder Marcus Thames has been Cock💮rell’s assistant during 🏅that time.
This past year, the Yankees led the majors in homers (241), were second in runs (858🧜), second in RBIs (821) and th🥀ird in OPS (.785).