3 Excellent Choices for Yankees Pitching Coach if Larry Rothschild Follows Joe Girardi to Phillies

There's still-more pressure on the New York Yankees now that they've gone a decade without winning a championship for the first time in a century. Their starting pitching was famously shaky this year, and now, there are rumors that Joe Girardi will grab pitching coach Larry Rothschild from the Bronx and add him to his new Phillies staff.

If the Yankees are indeed forced to make a change, let's identify three excellent selections for their next pitching coach.

3. Mel Stottlemyre, Jr.

The late Mel Sr. pitched 11 years for the Yankees with a sub-3.00 ERA before winning five total World Series titles (four with the Yankees) in 23 years as a pitching coach. Mel Jr. just finished his eighth season as an MLB pitching coach, and the Miami Marlins' staff was not as bad as their overall record says. Jarlin Garcia and Tyler Kinley pitched well out of their bullpen, and Sandy Alcantara anchored the rotation with a 3.88 ERA. Stottlemyre could work out well in the Bronx, though the Bombers will likely need to act fast to lock him down.

2. Dave Righetti

Dave Righetti pitched 12 years for the Yankees and threw a no-hitter before becoming a solid MLB closer. More importantly, he spent 18 seasons as the San Francisco Giants' pitching coach and won three World Series titles in leading a staff featuring the likes of Madison Bumgarner, Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum, and Ryan Vogelsong, among others. Brian Cashman needs to keep an eye on him.

1. David Cone

David Cone already sees Yankee pitchers enough while working as one of the team's TV broadcasters. He won four titles in six years as a pitcher with the Yankees, and it would not be too much of a stretch from his job right now, especially considering the jump Aaron Boone made from the commentary booth to the Yankee dugout. The Bombers are clearly comfortable with Cone considering how often he interacts with their players. In so many ways, he's a perfect fit.