Yankees: 3 recent NYY who should come back as coaches

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NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 25: Matt Holliday #17 of the New York Yankees at bat against the “” during the first inning at Yankee Stadium on September 25, 2017 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images) /

2. Matt Holliday

Remember how integral Matt Holliday was to the Yankees’ success in 2017?

It’s oft forgotten how big a part of the 2017 Yankees’ first-half energy former Cardinals and Rockies star Matt Holliday really was. He wasn’t just a ceremonial roster figurehead; he was clutch.

Holliday ended the season at .231 with 19 homers and 64 RBI, starting for much of the season and famously hitting a few key dingers along the way, from his walk-off to cap the home comeback against Baltimore to his game-tying shot off Craig Kimbrel at Fenway. By the time the postseason started, he was unfortunately deemed “unplayable” — and he likely was. After a mysterious illness sapped his energy midseason, he was never quite the same at the plate.

But what often gets lost in the sauce is how Holliday was there for every step of Aaron Judge’s breakout rookie season. In fact, the two were often inseparable.

From Spring Training to the postseason, Aaron Judge talking baseball with Matt Holliday. pic.twitter.com/DpONSQxUvx
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) October 3, 2017

Dealing with various health maladies ever since, Judge has never quite been able to replicate his freshman campaign. It would be disingenuous to blame Holliday’s absence for Judge’s medical issues (duh), but we miss the environment the ex-Rockie created in the locker room and we wish he’d been a viable participant when the postseason arrived.

Even in 2017, Holliday felt like a hitting coach in waiting — perhaps he’s ready to take on an assistant role? Or maybe an assistant trainer. Have you seen those guns?

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