Yankees Fire Coaches, What Does it Mean for Aaron Boone?
The New York Yankees made a swift house-cleaning of its coaching staff on Thursday, firing third base coach Phil Nevin, and hitting coaches Marcus Thames and P.J. Pilletere. The move…
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 05: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the New York Yankees celebrates a grand slam home run with third base coach Phil Nevin #88 during the ninth inning in Game One of the American League Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays at PETCO Park on October 05, 2020 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The New York Yankees made a swift house-cleaning of its coaching staff on Thursday, firing third base coach Phil Nevin, and hitting coaches Marcus Thames and P.J. Pilletere.
The move comes just days after rumors swirled that the Yankees are "inclined" toward bringing back Manager Aaron Boone for the 2022 season, however nothing seems imminent either way.
Nevin's dismissal as third base coach doesn't seem that surprising after his controversial decision to send Aaron Judge around third base on a Giancarlo Stanton double off the Green Monster. The Red Sox played the ball's ricochet perfectly and threw Judge out at the plate. Many fans, including ESPN baseball analyst Alex Rodriguez, questioned why Nevin sent Judge around third on that play.
The Yankees lost the Wild Card game 6-2.
Thames and Pilletere were relieved of their duties after the Yankees, despite ranking sixth in the league in home runs in 2021, were ranked 23rd in baseball in runs batted in and batting average.
Bench coach Carlos Mendoza, first base coach Reggie Willits, pitching coach Matt Blake and catching coach Tanner Swanson each remain on the staff currently, according to NJ.com.
As for Boone, his future is still up in the air. The San Diego Padres have been rumored to be an interested suitor for him, should the Yankees let him go. Boone has received plenty of support from his own Yankees' players to return. Boone was seen recently at Yankee Stadium this week.
The long wait on Boone's fate in pinstripes is eerily similar to what happened to his predecessor, Joe Girardi, after the Yankees lost in the ALCS to Houston back in 2017. Girardi, whose contract was up at the time, didn't hear from the Yankees on his fate until five days after the season ended.
