If you've been wondering what exactly the Yankees have been doing regarding their open coaching staff positions, it seems the search might be coming to a close. It's been a little concerning that the Yankees have done basically nothing all offseason, and their lack of a hitting coach seemed to make it look even worse.
The New York Daily News is reporting that current Double-A Trenton hitting coach Marcus Thames will be hired as the assistant hitting coach for the major league team. Many organizations are starting to make the hitting coach position a two-person job, presumably to give their players different perspectives, and it's good to see the Yankees keep up with this trend. Despite only a short time in the organization and as a coach, Thames has been well-liked by both the organization and players, and with prospects like Rob Refsnyder, Aaron Judge, and Greg Bird coming through the system, it makes sense to have their former coach up with them to watch over them.
As for the hitting coach position, James Rowson, who previously interviewed for the position, is currently considered to be the favorite to land the job. He previously served as minor league hitting coordinator with the Yankees before taking a job as major league hitting coach with the Cubs through the 2013 season. For the first base coaching job, last year's minor league field coordinator Jody Reed is the leading candidate. The Yankees have also interviewed Willie Randolph, though it's unknown how serious of a candidate he is. It would be nice to see him get another shot on a major league coaching staff, but we'll see what ultimately happens.
What do you all think about the dual-hitting coach position? Do you support the hiring of Thames? Do you want Willie Randolph back?