Girardi's staff remains intact for 2014
Rothschild, Long, Pena, Kelleher, Thomson and Harkey maintain roles
NEW YORK -- The Yankees have finalized deals with manager Joe Girardi's coaching staff, retaining the full group for the 2014 season. The team announced the agreements on Friday.
Girardi had said that he hoped to retain his coaching staff after finalizing a four-year contract extension last month, and general manager Brian Cashman voiced similar thoughts during his end-of-season news conference.
Thus, Girardi will again be surrounded by familiar faces in the dugout as the club attempts to improve on its 85-win showing this past season.
Pitching coach Larry Rothschild, hitting coach Kevin Long, bench coach Tony Pena, first base/infield coach Mick Kelleher, third base/outfield coach Rob Thomson and bullpen coach Mike Harkey have all been signed to return to the roles they served in 2013.
Pena has served on the Yanks' staff since 2006 and is beginning his sixth season as the club's bench coach. Long is entering his eighth season as the hitting coach, having debuted in 2007 under manager Joe Torre.
Harkey was a member of Girardi's first Yankees coaching staff in 2008, as was Thomson, who served for one season as the bench coach. Kelleher was added to the big league coaching staff in 2009, and Rothschild took over as pitching coach in 2011.