CARLSBAD, Calif. — Luis Rojas appears likely to move far, but not far, for his next baseball job.
From the manager’s office to the third-base coaching box. From Queens to The Bronx.
Multiple sources told The Post that Rojas, whom the Mets dismissed as manager at the conclusion of the 2021 season, will very likely become the Yankees’ third-base coach, replacing the fired Phil Nevin. Rojas and Yankees manager Aaron Boone enjoyed a nice relationship as Subway Series rivals the last two seasons and strengthened that bond during the interview process.
Rojas, 40, led the Mets to a combined 103-119 record in 2020 and 2021, the culmination of 17 years in the organization, including eight years of minor league managing. While the Mets offered him a chance to stay in another role, he quickly interviewed for the Padres’ managerial opening that went to Bob Melvin and he also spoke with at least one other club about a non-managing opening. Even as the Mets faltered under him, Rojas made a positive impression throughout the industry. Joining the Yankees would keep him in a high-profile role in the hopes of eventually getting another chance to manage.
Hiring Rojas would fill one of four openings on the Yankees’ coaching staff. They also let go hitting coaches Marcus Thames and P.J. Pilittere, and first-base coach Reggie Willits left his post to become a volunteer assistant for the University of Oklahoma’s baseball program.
The Mets, meanwhile, haven’t replaced Rojas because they still need to hire someone to run their baseball operations, who in turn will choose the franchise’s next manager.