The Yankees announced Thursday that first base coach/outfield instructor Reggie Willits has stepped down from his role to join the University of Oklahoma’s baseball program as a volunteer assistant coach.
“I want to thank Brian Cashman, Aaron Boone and the Steinbrenner family for the opportunity to work for such a world-class organization,” Willits said in a statement within this morning’s press release. “I’ve cherished my time with the Yankees and I’ve grown professionally and personally because of the bonds that have I’ve formed with so many players, coaches and staff. It’s been a challenging personal decision to make. I’m leaving a team and organization I’ve loved being a part of, but I’m returning home to be closer to my family and to work for a program I have deep ties to and great respect for.”
The departure of Willits further adds to the looming turnover on Boone’s staff. While the skipper himself signed a new three-year contract earlier this week, the Yankees have already dismissed hitting coach Marcus Thames, assistant hitting coach P.J. Pilittere and third base coach Phil Nevin. There’s no indication that Willits was on the chopping block himself, but the Oklahoma native will now have a chance to work with his alma mater and be closer to family after seven seasons with the Yankees organization.
A former big league outfielder himself, the 40-year-old Willits was hired by the Yankees as their minor league outfield and baserunning coordinator prior to the 2015 season. He held that role for three years before being promoted to Major League first base coach and outfield instructor prior to the 2018 season.
Willie Randolph please.
Ooooohhhhh, I likey!
Posada seems like he would make a good coach, maybe bench coach or catching coach.
Weird that Willits is leaving for a volunteer job though. Seems like one needs a source of income, but maybe he was really frugal.
I think Posada is working with Jeter and the Marlins
He is from near Norman and went to OU..No doubt will have an income besides being an assistant at OU.
My guess is, he was “encouraged” to move on.
Man. Now Cash will have *four* (more) of His Guys in the dugout, @Clip. Randolph? Posada? Bet not.
I think Cashman is actually a pretty good big market GM. His record is Really Good. But I can’t think of a GM/POBO whom has the all encompassing power throughout an organization that Cash does.
& *that* is why I was hoping for a new manager.
Just a different voice/perspective capable of making actual on-field decisions was/is in order. Instead we got Cash’s Favorite Administrator for another tour.
Now: the deadline was an admission by Cash in re several past mistakes he made putting the roster together/staying under CBT threshold 1. So he is obviously capable of making adjustments. Which is good! & hopeful!
But: he is not giving up any bit of his actual *team* control. (Not good…?)
So: we are going to win – or lose – with Cash’s team.
But: 95-100 win seasons coupled with a playoff series or 2 is how the Yanks now define a “winning team”, uh?
The End
Ducky,
Yes, I agree. We both have the exact same reservations with Cash. He’s good at what he does, very good in getting what he wants, and likes control over it all. Cash does have even more control, which seems impossible, but with new coaches hand-selected by him, it’s true.
The one saving grace is that Cash has taken full responsibility for the roster construction, for putting together a roster too homogenous, and making in-game decisions that should be up to Boone.
I I like it. It gives me more hope for Boone, and Cash IF** Cash is serious about fixing the roster, with his capability, I’m excited. It’s not the same ol’ tune anymore. If he falls flat, it’s completely on him. If Boone flails in the dugout it’s on Boone.
Hal seems to have noticed the widespread criticism for not being all-in, which may be the very motivation for giving Cash the freedom to get the top-tier of what we need….
Time will tell, but I doubt it’s a repeat of ‘21. Playoffs, yes. I’ll bet by the time we’re done, we’re looking at a division win. Bold statement, but I’ll stand by it and revisit it when we see what Cash does.
“…and making in-game decisions that should be up to Boone.”
Did I miss something, Clipper? Cash said that!?
I would actually like to see if Boone is a decent manager. All I feel I’ve seen from him seems to be dude-who-does-what-he’s-told.
Don’t think we are going to see any type of “all in” out of Hal. He does seem committed to fielding a 95-100 win team & hoping to go on an October run. That may – or may not – suffice for a division crown in the best division in MLB.
But, even before the offseason has really even started, I would definitely wager on another playoff appearance at the very least. Which is just simple “follow the money” stuff.
I took that inference from Cash’s statement about the lineup construction in one of the articles. He acknowledged that he has to leave that stuff to Boone. I inferred he was making more than just lineup decisions because of his tendency (urge?) to completely control the team. I could be wrong though, just from what I know of watching 20 years of Cash, that seems like quite an admission. It only confirmed what many of us suspected was going on with Booner.
Gotta say, I’m a little skeptical of that, Clipper.
Man, whenever I see an interview with Brian Cashman, I realize he is actually more Type A personality than I am. Which is notable. Bringing Boone back & then packing (at least) 4 of his dudes on the bench speaks of more involvement. Not less. Ya know?
I run the field. My partner the office. Neither one of us would dare try to replace each other’s people. Yet that is exactly what Cash has done.
I think Boone was brought back because he does indeed follow any & all front office edicts. Can’t have another instance of a manager starting Romine at 1B instead of Kris Karter as an “FU” to Cash or some similar “transgression”. Now can we?
Oh, yeah, i agree wholeheartedly with you. My proposition is conditional…IF Cashman can do that. I have my doubts on his ability to step away. And his personal placement of four people certainly indicates he was more influence. For now, I take him at his word. We will certainly see if the decision-making process changes.
He’s certainly seems like control freak, without a doubt. Saying it and doing it are two vastly different things. For now, I’m going to look ever so forward to the Hot Stove season and what we do. Just have to get through the new CBT, strike, renegotiations, and then signings.
Fair enough.
I’m filing it under: long shots. We will see, but I just don’t see him relinquishing any of his influence.
Think we’ll have a strike, uh?
Hope not. #@%&#! unions!
This is a little weird to me. It seems like Boone might be getting force fed the on field moves by the front office in the same way Dave Roberts is for the Dodgers. Why else would you get rid of all the coaches but extend the manager? They must like what the manager is doing because it’s exactly what they tell him to. They fire all the coaches because it didn’t turn out like they thought it would but but keep the manager because he does what they tell him. I actually really like analytics but this is getting out of hand. The 88-win Braves played the 106-win Dodgers yesterday in Los Angeles. The Braves pitched a bullpen game and the top pitcher they were supposed to use got injured for the rest of the season. The Braves had to roll with guys like Jesse Chavez and Drew Smyly but still won because the Dodgers analytical team decided 20-win Urias should be used as a reliever. How dumb is that? Does anyone think if Urias had stayed a starter all postseason he would lose at home against an 88-win team with Jesse Chavez and Drew Smyly on the mound? I get occasionally using bullpen games but the MLB leader in wins with 20 in Urias should without question have stayed a starter for the Dodgers throughout the playoffs. #1 Sherzer, #2 Buehler, #3 Urias, #4 Gonsolin. What’s wrong with that starting rotation in a 7 game series? I know Gonsolin is nothing special right now but when his opponents are guys like Jesse Chavez or Drew Smyly and he’s at home he has as good a chance to win as anyone. Sherzer, Buehler and Urias would all have been heavily favored. A team is a group of humans that go through different things all the time. They can’t be forced to fit some algorithm that projects Corey Knebel as the best starting pitcher half the time. Forcing MLB leading 20-game winner Jose Urias to be a reliever instead just straight up giving him one of the top 3 starting rotation spots like he has had all season is a huge mistake and will likely cost the Dodgers their chance at the championship. Computers don’t have eyes and ears. They only know what information some analyst types in there. I highly doubt those analysts are in the dugout watching what and how players are doing on a day to day basis. I usually dislike managers that always go with their gut and ignore the stats but this is ridiculous. This is the opposite of that and just as bad if not worse.
When boone and cashman are both eventually fired, posada as a bench coach stepping right in to manage might make some sense
Too old school, probably some analytics somewhere that says to go with a different coach
I went to a Yankee VIP event in Spring Training and sat with Willie and the late Oscar Gamble. Amazing experience. Without saying a name he mentioned that someone in the organization did not want him around. I questioned him a bit. Pretty sure he was referring to Gerardi. He loves the pinstripes and wants to be a part of the organization.
Huh.
I guess I assumed Willie would just be a Yankee icon throughout the organization. Helluva second baseman. Won a lot of games for us. Randolph as a persona non grata doesn’t make much sense to me, man. That should be corrected.
Ya know?
Leave the Yankees for an assistant job. Seems right.
Not only that, but a VOLUNTEER assistant job.
Dude will get paid; volunteer was probably termed because there’s an existing coaching staff in place now.
He’s from OK. Maybe that had something to do with it.
Grew up near Norman and went to OU. Definitely has something to do with it.
So he left a paying gig to go do volunteer work. How badly did he want to get out.
Tells you how bad the paying job was…
He was so popular with the players that most of them wouldn’t run hard for a double. Just wanted to spend time with him at first!
The New York Yankees are running a slugger’s “swing and miss” baseball empire that is more than 20+ years behind the times. Exhibit A: Joey Gallo.
Yes and they just held a press conference stating that era is over. Which is also why, contrary to many recent articles, they won’t go after Baez. Too much swing-and-miss. It will be Seager or Story.
CFer and C next. I could see Marte as the top target for him.
I think Story is the best fit for them because he’s also great defensively. I don’t think they’ll overpay for someone because Volpe isn’t too far behind, but if someone’s market collapses like Semien’s did last year, I could see the Yankees swooping in.
Story’s home/road splits is like night and day so kinda doubt Cash would sign him unlike La Mahieu who hit well in any park. Baez did better than his norm with Mets K’d a whopping 184x, walked only 28x most walks in a season is 30 which is very low so he’d be worse than Gallo, Judge, Stanton, Sanchino, Torres etc… would rather see either Seagers. Semien or even Nicky Lopez of KC who’s a lefty hitter not much pop but hits well and plays all IF with exception of C and 1B.
The Yankees have lost interest in Story after his horrible year.
I’d like to see Mitch Garver from Minnesota.
I’ve always been a fan of Garver. Except this past season he’s been consistently productive.
Michael, I could definitely see Story as well. Plus, he has plus speed. He’s the most well-rounded with the exception of Correa. I really like Story. I think the Yankees would target Seager only because he’s the only LH of the bunch.
Either one could transition easily to 3B in three years when Volpe/Peraza are ready.
Personally, I’d like to see a tandem of Phat Sancho/Tucker Barnhardt. Remember: resources are finite. Honestly – & knowing I’ll catch hell for posting it – I’d be fine with just running back Gary & Higashioka.
Look around MLB. One could do a lot worse. & the importance of spiking your lineup with power is being clearly shown in the ’21 postseason. Sanchez has power. Bat him in the bottom third & take his 25 jacks & .750 OPS.
Me to the big SS market: nah.
Look. Lindor got $34+MM in AAV. We haven’t seen the top 50 predictions yet. But I think you could bring Rizzo back, add Starling Marte, & plug short with Galvis ($1.5 mil last year) for no more than that (shorter commitments too) & the net gain would be far greater than what Story, Saeger et all would contribute.
Barnhart has a team option of $7.5m w/ team buyout of $500K for ’22. I like Posey but SF will never let him go. Zunino also has a club option $4m but TB would never deal him to NY, he has power, is barely over the Mendoza line but he is a excellent D backstop. The Yanks can also trade for Contreras of CHC he’s arb eligiable for the last time, made $6.6m+ last season.
Thanks for the #’s, @Gruber.
I’m more interested in Barnhardt as an upgrade to Higgy. Zunino would be an upgrade at C. & I am not sure intradivisional trades would bother TB much. But they’ll most likely keep him. I know a lot of Yankee fans are pining for Contreras but I don’t see Cash coughing up the prospects to get a deal done.
I still can’t watch baseball, man.
& the Giants season is done before Halloween. Feel like I’ve been reduced to hot stove baseball.
I think Higgy stays as backup, he’s still relatively a cheap option going into 1st yr of arb and is adequate at framing, pitch calling, receiving + pitchers seem to like him. If Cash goes out for a catcher it would for a starter which will make Sanchez into a trade or non-tender candidate. Yanks don’t need 2 catchers making more than $7 which will be the case if Barnhart is acquired and keeping Sanchez ($6.35m ’21) while Higgy made less than $600k.
Yeah, that would be quite a bit tied up at catcher. Guess I can move on from that. I certainly don’t want Barnhardt catching every day.
I know Sanchez has raised the ire (& not without reason) of Yankee fans. Thing is, if you look at catching around the league, Gary/Higgy isn’t all that easy to upgrade on production/potential.
Pretty good odds that Cash just runs it back.
Ducky, I’m with you for the tandem. It HAS to be Higgy replaced and Sanchez can supplement with his power. Then we have a good D, league avg hitter, or a power hitter with below avg D. If they go on the cheap, I’m fine with Zunino or Tucker. That would improve C from low-middle of the pack to upper half IMO.
You know I’m all for Contreras, but I honestly believe if the Yankees get him it will be as a FA unless Cash can swing one of his miracle trades by threatening to release the secret photos.
As we’ve discussed, Cronenworth and or DeJong would be perfectly acceptable acquisitions too. Love those ideas and they free up cash/commitments.
I doubt SD would move Cronenworth, he’s like Higgy a cheap option and isn’t arb eligible till ’23. If he is moved the price maybe steep due to being a controllable piece till ’25.
Willie Randolph, Brian Butterfield & Chili Davis
Definitely yes to Butterfield, he’s a good one.
No to Davis. Yes to Willie on the bench and Butterfield definitely.
Maybe he could actually win something now. He knew the Yankees wouldn’t ever win
Says the never-winning Mets guy…… or his alias, or his copycat. I can’t remember which Mets22 is the actual crazy person.
This one is. MetsFan-22 is a clone that does it ironically and the Mets missed WAR is kind of the true opposite
Thank you, tstats. I’ll keep that in mind and try not to feed the monster.
Didn’t the Yankees win 92 games and make the playoffs? I know there are at least 20 teams in MLB that would have loved to trade places with them this year.
The Yankees won more this year than the Mets could ever dream of winning. The LolMets are a joke.
Whoa, didn’t know Willits was working for the Yankees. Loved him on the Angels. He finally gets to go back home.
Anyone else notice the eerie resemblance to Gardner? I’m fairly certain they’re related. Willits can probably hit better though.
Appears like he’s climbing down the employment ladder. Why? We deserve to know as curious fans.
Several readers here are enough moved by the backstory of a resigning first base coach to issue commentary. OK. We have apparently all agreed to accept and consume whatever grist comes to the pandemic rumor mill.
I’ll be back soon for the next batch.
I’m surprised so many are confused by this. Location and work load are probably the biggest reason for this
We are such a money-minded society that someone taking a job that offers less pay is inconceivable
No idea how much an MLB coach makes. He did ‘ however – make a few mil playing ball, though.
With a decent money guy, & a bit of luck – that could have been enough for him.
I’ve built projects for a couple former Twins. Former MLB players can always make a little loot at baseball camps or being celebrity car salesmen.
I know for myself that I could actually make more money if we set up an office in Chicago. But that would entail some lifestyle changes that I am uninterested in. Not wanting to spend half the year in NYC is a perfectly defensible choice. May have been that simple, man.
PSA article mentioned that his sons are committed to playing there.
The MLB does not release a lot of information about the salaries of coaches but available information suggests that salaries range from $500,000 to $2.5 million, with some coaches earning even higher.
Non-manager coaches have earned very high salaries. In as far as 2010, the highest-paid pitching coach earned $800,000 annually. Pitching coaches typically earn $200,000 to $360,000. In 2013, Atlanta Braves paid their pitching coach, Roger McDowell, $200,000. This figure was topped by the Phillies who paid their pitching coach, Rich Dubee, $360,000 in the same year.
Hitting coaches are paid salaries in the six-figure range. Top hitting coaches can earn themselves a tidy sum of $1 million on an annual basis with pay rises. In 2009, Chicago Cubs’ hitting coach, Rudy Jaramillo signed a three-year contract worth $2.42 million. The contract earned him over $800,000 on a yearly basis. He was considered to be one of the best coaches in the league at the time. Even before signing the contract with the cubs, he was earning $650,000 a year in salary.
Third base coaches earn around $130,000 to $140,000 while first base coaches make $100,000 to $110,000. Bullpen coaches take home approximately $90,000. While their pay may seem lower than other baseball coach salary, they have a lot of benefits to enjoy such as free travel, being up close and personal with some of the world’s greatest athletes, and front-row seats to baseball games. Coaches may even be provided with free sports equipment as part of the deals that teams have with big name brands.
I just copied and pasted.
Seems like a good move for him. He has plenty of minor league coaching experience, and now MLB experience. Depending on his goals, it’s become more common for MLB teams to interview college coaches than in the past. This can help build out his resume if he hopes for a MLB managing job one day.
Yeah another Yankee thread so fans can beech and moan about Hal, Boone, Sanchez and Torres again.
With all these openings, looks like some great opportunities for some MLBTR posters on here.
This is the post of the year! Thank you for making me laugh!
Never seen so much reaction to the resignation of a first base coach AND suggestions for his replacement.
@Dave Frost love the idea of Willie Randolph why is Willie’s name never mentioned. Willie as one of the base coaches and Buck as the bench coach
Quentin, there is a rumor a NYY grounds keeper will accept a nursery dept position at a Finger Lakes Home Depot. But, Kubota Lawn Division wants him as their pitchman. Watch, John Deere will probably outbid them. Stayed tuned!
He had perfect analytics. Dude could mow turf within .025 inch every time. Thoughts and prayers, of course!
Don’t forget that bat boys were released. Cashman thanked them for their dedication to the Yankees. Rumor is that the bat boys were not following the Analytical Dept. which led to the high strikeout rates.
Yep, even this article generates a ton more traffic than a Mets article.
Another coach sacrificed to save the MGR this move does nothing to improve the team.Mgr should have been fired and by the way Willie Randolph is older than dirt and is too oldschool.Maybe Cashman should be on the hot seat.
I remember Reggie Willits as an OF with the Angels who was outstanding and played all out. Looked great for a while.
The whole Reggie Willits / Howie Kendrick name meme thing brings me back
Sounds like a weird way to say someone was fired.
@Bob333 what’s wrong with being old school? I think that’s exactly what the Yankees need.
@mlbnyyfan-Nothing is wrong I think it is great but these millenials grandfathers are Randolphs age and he will get no respect.I would bet over 1/2 of them don’t even know who he is.I also think Boone would not want him there he would look
at him as a threat.
they boot him to the curb then help him up and wish him well.
wRC+
Torres 94
Urshela 96
Gardner 93
Hicks 76
Odor 83
These poor performers need to be purged more than members of the coaching staff. Can’t win a WS with mediocre players.
– GM 101
Wrc+
Gleyber Torres career: .114. If not the Yanks someone will be very willing to take a chance on that.
Urshela: played hurt & is a glove first player who was oftentimes miscast in the batting order, yet still had an OPS of .720.
GGBG: yeah. Probably done sadly enough.
Hicks: 32 games. Hicks can play. That OPS would have definitely gone up. Unfortunately, the “32 games” is actually an issue.
Odor: he gone.
So I’m at a 2/5 must-purge. No problem with upgrading any of them though. But DJ/Gio/Gleyber is a decent enough 2B/3B group. & hopefully Hicksy transitions to a 4th outfielder role & can experience better health that way.
For all the damage thrown Torres’ direction for his lack of productivity, any team would scoop him up in a heartbeat.
His rookie year proves he is capable of high-level batting in MLB. The reality is that has he been league average his first two years, expectations wouldn’t be so high, and we would all be for giving him more time. Like LAD is doing with Gavin Lux, who is not, at all, impressive. Gleyber is judged by the bar he set his first year. He’s a victim of his own success.
I think the right trade comes along, we bite the bullet and trade him. But outside of getting exactly what we want, keep him and leave him at second.
Saw this article in Pinstripe Alley. | Mike Rosenstein: Speaking of options to be a possible replacement for Gary Sánchez, Buster Posey could be a direction the Yankees could go in. The 34-year-old catcher has a team option after this season ends, but it’s worth $22 million and the Giants might not be interested in that. Posey, who hit .304 with 18 home runs in 113 games in 2021, could be paired with Kyle Higashioka as the Yanks wait for one of their catching prospects to make their way up.
Sure, he’ll be 35 and playing a position that becomes ever more demanding with age, but … his leadership skills and contagious calm are off the charts, he imparts confidence to the pitchers and the rest of the lineup, and his pitch calling and framing are as good as ever. The Giants demonstrated that care with his playing time can keep him fresh throughout a long season, and Posey demonstrated that — with a fully healthy hip — he still can hit like a kid.
Big fan of Reggie’s from his days as an Angel. Good luck, Reggie.
Get Lou Pinella
Family is the number one reason. I can guarantee it.
understandable
who could turn down such an opportunity?
Sorry but…I can understand, on a certain level, firing Nevin, Thames etc. But what TF could they object to with Reggie Willets? Someone once wrote “given a choice between betraying my team and my friend, I only hope I would choose my friend”. Boone clearly chose against Nevin. Bad karma? We’re gonna find out. Need to make Buck the bench guy and put Mendoza at 3rd. As for first? Who TF knows? Pete Davidson?