The Yankees are set to finalize their coaching staff with the slight surprise that Tony Pena is going to become Joe Girardi’s bench coach, The Post has learned.
The moves were not finalized, but it appears almost certain that the way the coaching staff will be configured is with Pena shifting from first base to the bench, Rob Thomson moving from the bench to third base and Mick Kelleher being named the first base coach. Third base coach Bobby Meacham was fired after the season.
The Yanks had initially hoped to hire Larry Bowa to serve as both third base coach and personal motivator for Robinson Cano. Kelleher has worked the past three years as the Yanks’ minor league defensive coordinator and had a stint with the Yanks prior to that. He has a relationship with Cano, as well, and it will be his job to keep the talented, but enigmatic second baseman focused.
Pena, meanwhile, will be asked to help manager Joe Girardi somewhat with his relationship with both players and coaches. Girardi was not strong in interacting with either the personnel or his staff – beyond Meacham and bullpen coach Mike Harkey – in 2008.