Yankees: 5 things to change if team is still struggling at All-Star break

Alternatively, if things don’t improve for the Bombers and the club can wait until the season is over, Cashman could search for Boone’s replacement during the offseason. This would be preferable since there will be many more viable candidates available after the season is over. Hopefully, we can assume that Cashman will place a premium on prior experience and success at the MLB level this time and avoid trolling the press box again to select a replacement.If the latter takes place, my overwhelming first choice to be the next Yankee manager is Bob Melvin. Melvin is presently the manager of the Oakland Athletics. He has occupied that position since mid-2011. Before then, he managed the Arizona Diamondbacks and received the 2007 NL Manager of the Year award.

Under Melvin’s extraordinary leadership, the Oakland Athletics have made the playoffs six times during his nine full years as the Athletics’ skipper.

Melvin is now in his eleventh season as manager of the Athletics and has a 784-700 (.528) won-loss record operating in a small market with limited resources. He reportedly will earn $3.5 million in 2021, and there is a club option for 2022. Melvin turned 59 this past October.

According to the A’s GM David Forst, it is up to Melvin to decide what he wants to do going forward. Given the team’s modest budget, it is fairly likely that the Athletics will not be willing to offer him more money for 2022.

On the contrary, Melvin might be asked to accept a pay cut as part of the negotiations. This is because there has been a trend toward paying lower salaries for managers in recent years. This will likely create an opening for the Yankees to hire him if they wish to do so.

If the Yanks’ managerial position becomes open at the end of the 2021 season, Melvin would be an outstanding candidate. Given how well he has managed an MLB team in a small market, one has to wonder how much better he can do in a place with a lot more assets and elite talent.

Of course, let’s hope that the Yankees can turn things completely around, advance to the playoffs, and win the World Series! If that happens, there will be little need to make any major changes to the team’s roster and managerial leadership. Still, the Bombers should have a Plan B if the club plays poorly in the coming months, and changes must be made.