Dodgers bullpen coach Josh Bard reportedly interviews for spot on Yankees coaching staff

Another Dodgers coach has reportedly interviewed with the Yankees. Bullpen coach Josh Bard is a potential target to join new manager Aaron Boone’s staff in New York, per Ken Davidoff of the New York Post.

Davidoff speculates that Bard, a major league catcher for 10 seasons, could be the bench coach under Boone, with some additional duties:

Bard also would be likely to take over the duties of instructing the Yankees’ catchers, a role that will take on an increased spotlight given Gary Sanchez’s defensive struggles last season.

Joe Girardi (in 2005) and Tony Pena (from 2009 through 2013) both have worked the bench coach/catching instructor tandem for the Yankees; Pena, most recently the team’s first-base coach, supervised the Yankees’ catchers the past two years, as well.

Bard has been with the Dodgers for five seasons, including the last two as the major league bullpen coach.

Third base coach and infield instructor Chris Woodward was one of six candidates to interview in November for the Yankees’ managerial opening. Boone, who was officially hired by New York on Wednesday, was a teammate of Bard on the Indians in 2005.

Depending on what happens with Bard, the Dodgers coaching staff will otherwise return mostly intact in 2018, including Rick Honeycutt back as pitching coach. Assistant hitting coach Tim Hyers left to join the Red Sox, and Triple-A hitting coach Shawn Wooten, who also spent time working with major league hitters, was let go. The Dodgers on Dec. 1 hired Brant Brown and Luis Ortiz to fill the dual roles of major league assistant hitting coach and minor league hitting instructor.