Yankees Coach on Guardians' Search List

New York Yankees coach Carlos Mendoza is one of several coaches and managers that are being considered to replace Terry Francona in Cleveland, per the New York Post.

The post tweeted a list of the candidates, which included Mendoza, Mariners coach Steven Vogt, Giants coach Craig Albernaz, Yankees coach Carlos Mendoza, Cubs coach Andy Green and Brewers manager Craig Counsell, who will no longer be under contract in Milwaukee as of Nov. 1.

Mendoza interviewed for the open Chicago White Sox job last offseason, a job that was eventually taken by Pedro Grifol.

If the Yankees were to lose Mendoza, he would be the second coach that would not return from the staff that finished the 2023 season. Earlier this month hitting coach Sean Casey — who assumed the role at midseason — announced that he would not return to the role in 2024.

Mendoza is the Yankees’ bench coach and has been since he replaced Josh Bard before the 2020 season. Before that, he was a quality control and infield coach for the Yankees. He’s worked for the Yankees for 11 seasons.

Along with working for the Major League club, he managed the Gulf Coast League Yankees in 2011 and the Charleston River Dogs in 2012, both Yankees affiliates. After that he served as a roving infield instructor.

In any managerial hiring search, Counsell would be the obvious lead candidate. But his connection to new New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns makes it likely Counsell may end up with the Mets.