Just when we all thought the New York Yankees had all set to enter the 2022 season with Eric Chavez as an assistant hitting coach to Dillon Lawson, the New York Mets lured him with the hitting coach position and he is now on the other side of the town.
Despite this development, the Yankees are expected to find a replacement for Chavez and fill the assistant hitting coach position, preferably with someone who has major league experience according to all indications.
Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News reported over the weekend that the Yankees, full of analytics-driven coaches in influential positions, also want someone who has played in MLB to balance things out a little and bring another perspective.
The Yankees want an experienced assistant to complement Lawson
Here is what Ackert wrote:
“Former slugger Mark Trumbo is one of the names that has surfaced in the Yankees’ search, those sources also confirmed. The former first baseman and designated hitter played 10 years in the big leagues with the Angels, Diamondbacks, Mariners and Orioles. According to a source, Trumbo is “very well thought of [in baseball circles] and a smart and engaging communicator,” who’s been connected to a few teams this winter.
The Yankees have “cast a wide net” looking for someone who will help Dillon Lawson, the minor league hitting coordinator promoted to hitting coach, turn around an offense that was shockingly disappointing and inconsistent in 2021. But they also want someone with experience playing in the big leagues who can help balance out a staff that is very heavy on coaches with analytics backgrounds and very light on playing experience.”
Chavez was a successful major leaguer for 17 years, in which he had a 113 wRC+. Trumbo, on the other hand, was known for his impactful game power (218 career home runs) and finished his MLB stint with a 106 wRC+.