The Yankees have exercised club options for pitching coach Matt Blake and major league field coordinator/director of catching Tanner Swanson, sources told the Daily News on Monday.

Both decisions were expected, as the two have become instrumental members of Aaron Boone’s staff over the past few years.

Blake, in his current role since 2019, is considered one of the game’s top pitching coaches. While his 2025 bullpen fell short of expectations despite having more star power than Blake has been accustomed to – Yankees relievers ranked 23rd with a 4.37 ERA – the coach oversaw a rotation that finished fourth with a 3.61 ERA despite suffering numerous injuries. That included Gerrit Cole undergoing Tommy John surgery and not throwing a single pitch.

Back in August, Blake said that he hoped to remain with the Yankees and added that he had not had any talks with the team about an extension. A few weeks later, general manager Brian Cashman said there was no need to discuss an extension with Blake with the Yankees in possession of a club option.

With Blake’s option picked up, a source also confirmed that Desi Druschel is rejoining the Yankees’ coaching staff.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan first reported the return of Druschel, who was Blake’s assistant pitching coach in the Bronx for three seasons before taking a similar role with the Mets this past year. When the Queens club let lead pitching coach Jeremy Hefner go after the season, Druschel was given the opportunity to stay with the Mets. However, they also gave the pitch design specialist permission to speak with other teams, prompting his switch back to the pinstripes.

With Druschel working on Carlos Mendoza’s staff last year, Preston Claiborne took over as the Yankees’ assistant pitching coach. The former Yankees reliever is still on the team’s coaching staff. Either Claiborne or Druschel will become the Bombers’ bullpen coach after Mike Harkey, who filled the role for 16 seasons over two stints, wasn’t invited back.

Harkey was on an expiring contract.

As for Swanson, he has also earned a respected reputation with the Yankees’ catching development flourishing since he joined the organization in 2019. This past season, he saw Austin Wells, Ben Rice and J.C. Escarra continue to grow as defenders at the big league level. The Yankees have also been able to trade several catchers for other pieces over the last few years.

That list includes, but is not limited to, Jose Trevino, Carlos Narváez, Ben Rortvedt, Agustín Ramírez, Rafael Flores and Kyle Higashioka.

While the Yankees picked up Swanson’s option, he could become a bench coach candidate elsewhere with a handful of teams undergoing managerial changes this offseason. The Twins are one of those teams, and Yankees hitting coach James Rowson is a finalist for their opening.

Rowson and Swanson previously worked for Minnesota’s organization before teaming up in New York.

The Guardians, meanwhile, are looking for a lieutenant under skipper Stephen Vogt, as they just lost Craig Albernaz to Baltimore’s managerial vacancy. Albernaz initially joined Vogt’s Cleveland staff as a bench coach before being promoted to the title of associate manager.

Originally Published: October 27, 2025 at 10:17 AM EDT