While everyone is waiting on the free agency (and trade market) dam to burst, the coaching cycle is spinning at full speed right now. The New York Yankees just lost bench coach Brad Ausmus to the Houston Astros, who are hiring the former Tigers and Angels manager to fill their own skipper vacancy.
Why should the Boston Red Sox care? Well, besides the fact that it's fun to laugh at the Yankees' misfortunes, it also opens up a disastrous possibility: Andrew Bailey could be poached. The current Sox pitching coach — who took the job only after interviewing for the Yankees' bench coach opening and losing out to Ausmus in 2023 — now appears to be a top candidate for one of the most high-profile gigs in the Bronx once again.
Other names that have been floated as potential replacements for Ausmus include former Reds manager David Bell, former Astros manager Joe Espada, and former Cubs manager David Ross.
Names that could make sense as Yankees look for a bench coach to replace Ausmus:
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) November 11, 2026
David Bell (just stepped down from Jays front office, some believe to facilitate return to dugout)
Andrew Bailey (who interviewed with them in the past)
Andrew Bailey's track record with Red Sox could lead him right into Yankees' hands
Hiring Bailey was one of Craig Breslow's first moves as president of baseball operations in Boston, a decision that was widely lauded at the time following the former's success in San Francisco as the Giants' pitching coach. In the years since, it's proven to be one of the best moves Breslow has made while running the organization.
Since Bailey joined the Red Sox, the team ranks fifth league-wide in ERA (3.77), fourth in FIP (3.91), and third in pitcher fWAR (56.3). He's helped young pitchers like Payton Tolle and Brayan Bello take big steps toward big-league relevancy, not to mention the key part he played in Garrett Crochet's evolution from All-Star starter to Cy Young finalist.
Even though the Yankees rank inside the top 10 in all of those same categories over the past three years, it's no wonder why they would want to hire someone who has been so successful as a pitching coach at two different stops. Their interest in Bailey back in 2023 all but confirms that they know how special he is in that role.
Frustrating as it would be to lose Bailey to the franchise formerly known as the Evil Empire, it would be difficult to blame him for taking the gig if he gets it. A promotion to bench coach would likely be his last stepping stone en route to his inevitable destination as a manager, and he'd surely appreciate the ridiculous loyalty the Yankees show their coaching staff after surviving the Alex Cora-led purge earlier in 2026.
We can hope that the Bronx Bombers will fool themselves into hiring another candidate to serve under Aaron Boone, but there's no doubt that Bailey is the best man for the job.
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