KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Yankees want more than a half-season of Sean Casey’s services.
In what may also be a telling indication of the job status of Aaron Boone heading into the offseason, both Boone and general manager Brian Cashman have asked Casey to return next year as hitting coach.
“They’ve asked me to come back,” Casey told The Post on Sunday at Kaufmann Stadium before Game 162. “I just gotta figure out – talk to my daughters and have a couple conversations I need to have before I can say for sure.”
“I’ve talked to both those guys [Cashman and Boone]. Just trying to figure out what to do.”
It is unlikely that Cashman would ask Casey, one of Boone’s closest friends, to come back next year if he was planning on moving on from Boone, who has one year left on his contract.
Boone said before Sunday’s game that he will be meeting with Cashman and Hal Steinbrenner this week in Tampa as the organization goes through its deep dive following a season in which the Yankees underachieved and missed the playoffs.
The Yankees hired Casey as their hitting coach over the All-Star break this year after firing Dillon Lawson.
Casey agreed to a contract that ran through the end of this year, giving both sides a chance to see how it went before deciding on their future.
Two and a half months later, the Yankees want the energetic and upbeat Casey back.
Their offense remained inconsistent under his watch, though it has had a noticeably more patient approach at the plate.
It’s possible that with more time with Casey as hitting coach – and perhaps an improved roster – the Yankees could see better results.
“I think he’s come in here and had an awesome impact on this team,” Boone said. “I know he’s gotta get away and see what’s next for him. Those will all be conversations we have in the upcoming days and weeks of where we want to go with it. Obviously, Sean’s gotta have those conversations too.
“The one thing I can say is he’s been a breath of fresh air for us coming in here. I do think he’s done a really nice job for us.”
Casey, a former three-time All-Star, also has the backing of some important voices in the clubhouse.
“Sean’s been great,” Aaron Judge said Sunday. “He brings a different philosophy. I think he brings a positive attitude to help guys stay locked in on their at-bats. We got all the numbers, we got all the information, but then it’s just about you stepping in the box and feeling like you’re the greatest hitter on the planet every single time you step in the box. He’s been a great addition. Hopefully he stays. We’ll see what happens.”
Casey, meanwhile, said he hopes to make a decision soon after speaking with his family.
“It’s been great, man,” Casey said. “It’s been incredible. It’s been literally some of the best times I’ve had in my life, being here with these guys and being part of the Yankee organization. It’s just been awesome.”