Yankees Rumors: Former Tigers Manager Brad Ausmus to Be Bench Coach Under Aaron Boone

Former Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Angels manager Brad Ausmus is reportedly joining the New York Yankees as a bench coach.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported the news after Ausmus interviewed for the opening this week. He will replace Carlos Mendoza, who recently took the New York Mets' managerial position.

After two years out of coaching, Ausmus joined the Oakland Athletics for the 2022 season but announced he would not be returning earlier this month. While it was initially expected he would look for a front-office position, instead it appears Ausmus found the Yankees' offer too enticing to pass up.

Perhaps the biggest reason is that Ausmus would be the natural successor if the Yankees moved on from manager Aaron Boone. The Yankees skipper will enter the 2024 season on the hot seat after a disappointing 82-80 season, and Boone has not led New York to a World Series appearance in any of his six years leading the bench.

General manager Brian Cashman deserves a fair share of the blame for the team's roster construction, but Boone's overhauled staff indicates a change could be made if things don't get off to a strong start in 2024.

The Yankees already hired a new hitting coach in James Rowson this offseason after Sean Casey decided to not pursue the full-time job. Adding Ausmus to the mix will only add another veteran voice who could take things over if Boone doesn't turn things around.