Willie Randolph, a five-time All-Star second baseman with the New York Yankees who served as the team’s bench coach during the team’s late-1990s dynasty, is joining the franchise in a new role: television analyst.
MORE: Cody Bellinger ends free agency suspense; Yankees outfielder has $162.5 million contract
On Tuesday, the YES network announced that Willie Randolph is joining its Yankees coverage.
Veteran play-by-play man Michael Kay later clarified on Yankees Hot Stove that the 71-year-old Randolph will join the regional sports network’s studio show.
Randolph spent 13 seasons with the Yankees from 1976-88, then as Joe Torre’s bench coach from 1994-2004. He later managed the New York Mets from 2005-08, a tenure that included one trip to the National League Championship Series in 2006.
Previously, Randolph worked as an analyst with ESPN on its Baseball Tonight studio show, and during select postseason broadcasts beginning in 2013. He also worked on a defunct YES show, Yankees Baseball Daily, during the 2011 offseason.
The Athletic reported last October on a number of changes coming to the YES talent lineup, including the departure of analysts John Flaherty, Jeff Nelson and Dave Valle.
Randolph should offer a valuable perspective as a former player, coach, and manager who is intimately familiar with the Yankees franchise. He’s also fondly remembered by a generation of fans nostalgic for the glory years the team has struggled to replicate recently.
The Yankees last won the World Series in 2009.
— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —
VIRAL: Alex Honnold takes incredible selfie after historic Taipei 101 climb
CFB: Ohio State reportedly names former NFL head coach as next OC
NFL: Donald Trump boycotts Super Bowl LX over halftime performers Bad Bunny, Green Day
NBA: Bill Simmons draws up wild NBA trade with Giannis Antetokounmpo
MLB: Mets sign nine-time All-Star pitcher in free agency, per reports
TENNIS: Valentin Vacherot hits physics-defying shot at Australian Open