The New York Yankees will be looking for a new hitting coach, according to George A. King III of the New York Post.Jeff Pentland, their current hitting coach, has been told by GM Brian Cashman that he will not be returning next season.
"When I signed, I was told it was probably a one-year deal. That was always in the back of my mind, but we didn’t look too good the last month. It’s the Yankees, that’s the best way to describe it. I have no regrets.’’
Replacing Kevin Long was the biggest challenge for Pentland, who said that if Long couldn't do the job, he knew that it wasn't going to be an easy gig. Long was fired with a year left on his deal following the 2014 season and later joined the Mets as their hitting coach.
King names a number of potential candidates for the vacant job. When the job was available the first time, Chili Davis and Dave Magadan were brought in for interviews. Davis went to the Red Sox and Magadan stayed with the Rangers. However, he was later fired by Texas and the Yankees don't appear interested this time.
Alan Cockrell, Pentland's assistant, is among the mix along with minor league coaches James Rowsen and Marcus Thames. One of the more surprising names that has surfaced is Raul Ibanez, who just finished playing a few weeks ago.
As a team, the Yankees hit .251/.323/.421 with a wRC+ of 103, tied for the fifth best mark in all of baseball. The Bronx Bombers have some hitters getting up their in age, so it will be interesting to see what Father Time's effect will be on their offense. The Yankees will need somebody that can manage those guys, along with coaching the youngsters like Greg Bird, Rob Refsnyder and the other young Yankee talent.