KANSAS CITY, Mo. — With a scouting position open in the Latin America arena created by the departure of Gordon Blakeley to the Braves, there is a chance former Mets and Expos GM Omar Minaya could be hired by the Yankees for it or another position.
Minaya’s scouting acumen is appealing to several Yankees decision makers, and GM Brian Cashman and Minaya are close.
However, Minaya, a senior VP of baseball operations with the Padres, said he hasn’t talked to anybody with the Yankees about a position.
“I have not,’’ Minaya said Tuesday. “I am under contract here for another year. There is nothing official going on. At this time of the year you hear rumors. They are looking for scouting people, but there is nothing official going on.’’
Though the Yankeed need a replacement for the retiring minor league head Mark Newman, it doesn’t appear Minaya is a candidate to replace Newman.
Minaya was the Mets’ GM from late 2004-2010.
Minaya, who turns 57 in November, joined the Rangers’ scouting program in 1985 and helped sign Sammy Sosa and Juan Gonzalez.
As for Newman’s replacement, the Yankees have talked to internal candidates Pat McMahon, Gary Denbo and John Kremer.
Trey Hillman leaving to join Astros
Trey Hillman is leaving the Yankees after one year to become the Astros’ bench coach, according to a person aware of the situation.
Hillman rejoined the Yankees last season and served as a special assistant in the minor and major league baseball operations. He may have been a candidate to replace fired first base coach Mick Kelleher because he has experience working with infielders.
Hillman, a former Yankees minor league manager, previously managed the Kansas City Royals and the Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan. He was Don Mattingly’s bench coach with the Dodgers until he was let go following the 2013 season.