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Yankees might take page out of Dodgers book to fill vacant coaching hole
The Yankees are considering former Dodgers hitting coach Aaron Bates for their vacant hitting coach role, potentially borrowing from a staff member of a recent championship rival. The opening arose after Brad Ausmus left to become Astros manager, and Bates is among the candidates reported to be under consideration.
Bates spent 12 years in the Dodgers’ organisation, including eight as an assistant hitting coach and a period as co-hitting coach with Robert Van Scoyoc. He won three World Series titles with Los Angeles, which ranked third in MLB in batting average last season at .257, with 204 home runs and 801 runs. The Yankees hit 223 home runs but batted .235, among the league’s five lowest averages; the futures of assistant hitting coaches Casey Dykes and Jake Hirst are also unclear.
In short
- Yankees are considering former Dodgers coach Aaron Bates.
- Bates won three World Series titles with Los Angeles.
- New York hit 223 homers but batted .235 last season.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Hiring Aaron Bates could give the Yankees an experienced coach from a highly successful Dodgers organisation, whose hitters have produced strong results. His background may help address New York’s low batting average while bringing a fresh approach after the vacancy opened.
The case against
Bates’s success in Los Angeles does not guarantee the same results in New York, where players, staff and circumstances differ. The Yankees could reasonably favour a candidate with a clearer record of improving their specific hitters, and should weigh how any appointment fits with decisions about the rest of the coaching staff.