Yankees steal one but must avoid another from Mets’ coaching staff

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NEW YORK — The New York Yankees have welcomed back an important piece of their pitching staff leadership after a one-year detour across town. Assistant pitching coach Desi Druschel is returning to the Bronx after spending the 2025 season with the New York Mets. But while the Yankees front office celebrates his return, they also face a more delicate choice involving another ex-Met with Yankees ties — Eric Chavez.

Druschel returns to familiar territory

ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that Druschel will rejoin pitching coach Matt Blake’s staff after serving as an assistant pitching coach with the Mets this past season. The 50-year-old coach previously spent three years in the Yankees organization from 2022 through 2024, during which the pitching staff produced a strong 3.68 ERA and helped power the team to the 2024 World Series.

After finishing 18th in baseball with a 4.04 ERA and missing the 2025 playoffs, the Mets overhauled their staff. Pitching coach Jeremy Hefner, who originally brought in Druschel, was dismissed in the restructuring. The Mets granted Druschel permission to explore other options, paving the way for his return to the Yankees.

In Druschel’s absence, the Yankees’ pitching staff remained solid in 2025 with a 3.91 team ERA. The rotation ranked fourth in MLB at 3.61, but the bullpen faltered, ranking just 23rd at 4.37. Druschel’s experience and analytical focus are expected to bolster that area.

His return also fills the vacancy left when longtime bullpen coach Mike Harkey was not retained after the Yankees’ elimination by the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Division Series. According to SNY’s Andy Martino, assistant pitching coach Preston Claiborne, who stepped into Druschel’s old role last offseason, will stay with the organization. The Yankees will determine whether Claiborne or Druschel assumes bullpen duties moving forward.

A proven track record in development

Druschel’s journey to the Yankees began in college baseball. Before joining the organization in 2019 as minor league manager of pitching development, he built his name at the University of Iowa, where he worked as pitching coach and director of baseball operations.

Known for his calm demeanor and data-driven approach, Druschel earned a reputation for expertise in pitch design, analytics, and seam orientation. His ability to communicate complex information simply helped him connect with younger pitchers and turned journeymen into productive contributors.

His partnership with Matt Blake became one of the Yankees’ biggest assets. Their collaboration fueled consistent results from both starters and relievers. When the Mets offered Druschel a role in 2025, the move represented a chance for a bigger platform — and a pay raise.

Brief stop in Queens

Druschel’s one-year stint with the Mets was eventful. Injuries forced the team to use an MLB-record 46 pitchers during the 2025 season. The staff’s 4.74 ERA after the All-Star break ranked sixth worst in baseball, derailing what had been a strong first half of the season.

Although it would be unfair to place the blame solely on the coaching staff, the Mets’ collapse led to sweeping changes. Team president David Stearns admitted at his end-of-season press conference that the organization failed to properly reinforce pitching depth once injuries mounted.

For Druschel, the chance to return to a stable and familiar system was too good to pass up. The Yankees represent continuity, stability, and a culture where he already proved his value.

The Eric Chavez situation

While the Yankees’ reunion with Druschel marks a positive step, they now face a more complicated question about another former Mets coach who once wore pinstripes — Eric Chavez.

Chavez, fired by the Mets alongside hitting coach Jeremy Barnes after the 2025 season, has a past connection with the Yankees. The team originally announced his hiring as assistant hitting coach on Dec. 22, 2021, but just two weeks later, the Mets hired him away as their hitting coach. The sudden move angered many Yankees fans, though general manager Brian Cashman acknowledged that Chavez was simply accepting a promotion.

His time with the Mets, however, was turbulent. After serving as hitting coach in 2022, Chavez was moved to bench coach for 2023 before being reassigned back to hitting coach in 2024. He remained in that role through 2025 before being dismissed.

Chavez’s playing career ended with a respected stint as a veteran leader for the Yankees from 2011 to 2012, when he batted .274 with a .783 OPS. A six-time Gold Glove third baseman, Chavez was admired for his professionalism and baseball instincts. The Yankees organization has long appreciated his baseball IQ and leadership qualities.

Why the Yankees should stay away

Despite his credentials, recent events suggest the Yankees should steer clear of bringing Chavez back. After being dismissed from the Mets, Chavez posted an Instagram story celebrating the team’s three Silver Slugger finalists — Juan Soto, Pete Alonso, and Francisco Lindor — with the caption, “Take That In.”

The post struck many as unnecessary and tone-deaf. Taking public credit for three superstar players’ success, especially those already established as elite hitters, raised eyebrows across the league. If an under-the-radar player had thrived under his guidance, such recognition might have been seen as earned. Instead, it appeared petty and self-congratulatory.

Meanwhile, Yankees hitting coach James Rowson is currently a finalist for the Minnesota Twins’ managerial opening, alongside former Pirates manager Derek Shelton, according to Dan Hayes of The Athletic. If Rowson departs, the Yankees will have a hole to fill on the coaching staff.

Even so, rehiring Chavez — who once left the Yankees for a division rival and later made questionable social media posts — would only invite controversy. The Yankees’ focus this offseason should remain on upgrading talent and maintaining a stable, drama-free clubhouse.

Different paths forward

The Yankees’ reunion with Druschel shows how productive relationships can end and resume smoothly when both sides operate professionally. The Mets gave him permission to explore opportunities, and the Yankees wasted no time in bringing him back. It was a clean, respectful process that benefits both organizations.

Chavez’s history, on the other hand, is messier. His decision to leave the Yankees in 2022, his uneven tenure with the Mets, and his post-firing remarks all point to potential distractions that the Yankees don’t need.

As the team prepares for 2026, the Yankees find themselves in a position of continuity on the pitching side and flexibility on the hitting side. Druschel’s return strengthens the staff that Matt Blake built into one of baseball’s most respected programs. Any changes to the hitting department should focus on fresh perspectives from outside the Mets’ recently dismissed staff.

The offseason is still young, but early moves suggest the Yankees are intent on building a staff that aligns with their long-term goals. Bringing Druschel back was a smart, steady decision. Avoiding another reunion with Chavez would be just as important for keeping the team’s focus on winning, not on past distractions.

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