At least two members of the Yankees’ coaching staff are not coming back in 2026.
That would be longtime bullpen coach Mike Harkey and infield/first base coach Travis Chapman, as SNY’s Andy Martino reported that they won’t return next season. Martino added that other roles on Aaron Boone’s staff are being discussed.
Pitching coach Matt Blake and major league field coordinator/director of catching Tanner Swanson have club options, so those need to be decided on. There’s also bench coach Brad Ausmus and third base/outfield Luis Rojas, two former managers on expiring contracts this year.
The Yankees also gave the Twins permission to talk to hitting coach James Rowson about their managerial opening.
Harkey, approaching his 59th birthday, just wrapped up his 16th season as the Yankees’ bullpen coach. He held the position from 2008-2013 before returning prior to the 2016 season.
The Yankees’ relievers didn’t pitch particularly well in 2025, as the bullpen’s 4.37 ERA ranked 23rd in baseball as injuries ravaged the group and high-leverage arms like Devin Williams and Luke Weaver struggled. The unit was actually worse after a trade deadline makeover brought in David Bednar, Camilo Doval and the quickly-demoted Jake Bird, as the pen’s 4.74 ERA from Aug. 1 through the end of the regular season ranked 26th.
Yankees relievers also allowed 18 earned runs over 26.1 innings in the postseason before the team was eliminated in the ALDS.
Prior to 2025, the Yankees’ bullpen had the third-best ERA in the majors since Harkey rejoined the organization in 2016.
Chapman, meanwhile, completed his fourth year in his role, which also included being the organization’s “Director of Infield.” It was the 47-year-old’s 13th overall season with the Yankees.
While errors are hardly the best stat for measuring defense, the Yankees had the fifth-most errors at second base, third base and shortstop this past season. Second and third were eventually sorted out with metrics darlings — Jazz Chisholm Jr. returned to second after playing third to accommodate DJ LeMahieu, while Ryan McMahon was acquired for the hot corner — but Anthony Volpe’s once Gold Glove defense regressed at short.
Volpe, who routinely worked on his defense with Chapman before games, ended the season with -7 Outs Above Average, a -5 Fielding Run Value and two Defensive Runs saved. His 19 errors were the fourth-most in the majors.
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