Yankees, Kevin Long Reach 3-Year Deal

According to sources, the Yankees and hitting coach Kevin Long, have agreed on terms for a 3-year deal, keeping him with the team through 2013. Long is expected to receive a raise from his prior 3-year contract worth $1.2 million. Deatils of the terms have not yet been released.

The move should come as no surprise to the Bomber faithful. Kevin Long has been cited by players on the team and by some in the media as being an outstanding hitting coach who spends quality one-on-one time with players, both during the season and off. Last winter, he traveled to the Dominican Republic to work with Robinson Cano whose adjustments lead to an MVP-calibur season in 2010. Nick Swisher traveled to Arizona to work with Long and had one of his best seasons to date, batting .288 with 29 home runs, 33 doubles and 89 RBIs. And after struggling during the first half of '10, Curtis Granderson sought help from Long; from August 12 to season's end, he went on to hit 14 homers and knock in 34 RBIs.

"He gets the players' trust," GM Brian Cashman told ESPN New York during the season. "He knows the mechanics of the swing but he also speaks their language."

Under the tutelage of Long, the Yankees batted .267 with 201 home runs off of 1485 hits  in 2010.

Sources covering the team believe that the remaining coaching staff will also be brought back for 2011.

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