Yankees losing controversial coach to rival manager job would be plainly hilarious

If you thought James Rowson emerging as a potential candidate for the Minnesota Twins' managerial job represented a strange pivot, then wait 'til you hear about the next New York Yankees coach who's suddenly in the skipper mix.

After Year 1 under Steve Cohen, the New York Mets declined their 2022 option on manager Luis Rojas. A month and a half later, the Yankees brought him in as their third base coach, still viewing him the way the league reportedly perceived him before he was put in charge in Flushing: a bright young baseball mind, developing leadership skills on the fly.

While "third base coach" isn't exactly the easiest role with which to show off that expertise and point out small insights to help gain advantages at the margins, the Yankees still believe Rojas does more than meets the eye. That explains why, despite repeated questionable sends and apparent deficiencies at the hot corner, he's maintained his job with the Bombers for four years.

Ask any fan (or Giancarlo Stanton lumbering around third), and they wouldn't mind parting with Rojas. As it turns out, they might get their collective wish – but not because the axe dropped. No, no. The Baltimore Orioles like what they see and spoke with Rojas about their vacant managerial job.

Yankees could lose Luis Rojas to managerial opening with Baltimore Orioles

No, wait, please. Don't go. We still had so much to accomplish here. Oh, well, if you must.

Add in Rojas' apparent advocacy for Marcus Stroman before the Yankees took the plunge last winter and, yeah, I think we have all the evidence we need. Orioles, anything else you'd like to see before we make this a done deal? We'll even throw in first base coach Travis Chapman. Yes, he was already fired, but still.

Rojas has strong baseball bloodlines, as the son of the legendary Felipe Alou. It's plausible that the behind-the-scenes insight he's been reportedly valued for has made a larger impact on the Yankees' clubhouse than what he's been publicly responsible for. But, after a feckless first managerial tenure in the Mets' dugout, followed by a series of visible gaffes in judgment at third base, it's hard to get too bent out of shape if the Orioles decide to take this plunge.

Wasn't interim manager Tony Mansolino doing just fine, by the way?