The Yankees could upgrade their coaching staff by bringing back a familiar face this winter.
After the Yankees' offense sputtered yet again in 2014, they promptly fired hitting coach Kevin Long, which probably made sense, and first base coach Mick Kelleher, which made significantly less sense. Nearly two months later they still have yet to fill either position despite there being a prime candidate with strong ties to the franchise that could shake up the coaching staff for the better. Willie Randolph should be getting a call from the Yankees.
The team put a priority on finding a replacement at hitting coach but that search hasn't exactly gone well. While Randolph wouldn't be the answer there, adding him as a coach would have the trickle down effect of upgrading the staff as a whole. The former second baseman, who left his mark on the franchise as a player, could be hired to serve as the team's third base coach. It's a position he held with the Yankees from 1994 through 2003, a period of great success for the team, so there's no doubt he's qualified. This move could also shift the team's current third base coach Rob Thomson over to first base to replace Kelleher. People who followed the 2014 Yankees would agree that this shift alone would make a Randolph hiring worth it.
If the Yankees elect to keep Rob Thomson at third base, a less than ideal but still possible situation, Randolph could still be brought back to serve as Joe Girardi's bench coach. As Joe Torre's bench coach in 2004 he did well enough to be hired as the Mets' manager the following year. In this scenario Tony Pena, the team's current bench coach, could move to first base where he served as a Yankee coach from 2006 through 2008.
No matter where they put him, if Randolph comes back to the organization he would also be a mentor to promising second base prospect Rob Refsnyder. After establishing himself as an offensive force in both double and triple-A last year, Refsnyder is sure to see some playing time in the Bronx in 2015. As one of the best fielders of his generation, Randolph could impart his wisdom and help improve the weakest part of Refsnyder's game, fielding his position. There would be no shortage of benefits if we saw a Willie Randolph/Yankees reunion, so please make it happen, Cash.