Pitching coach Eiland won't be brought back in 2011

The Yankees announced Monday that Dave Eiland, their pitching coach for three seasons, will not be brought back in 2011, and that they intended to make that move even if the team had won the World Series.

Eiland's contract was not renewed upon its completion. "It has nothing to do with what took place in the playoffs," general manager Brian Cashman said in opening a news conference at Yankee Stadium. "He's not being blamed for what took place and how bad we pitched. I can honestly tell you that."

Cashman would not divulge a reason for the decision, but a person with knowledge of the situation confirmed that Eiland and the Yankees never fully recovered from his 25-day leave of absence in June to deal with a private matter. Eiland, 44, didn't publicly explain his reason for leaving the team, and the departure grew more awkward as mercurial starting pitcher A.J. Burnett struggled during that time.

Reached by telephone, Eiland declined to comment.

The Yankees don't have a front-running candidate to replace Eiland; bullpen coach Mike Harkey appears to be a long shot. They'll look inside and outside their organization.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre pitching coach Scott Eldred could be a candidate, and former Yankees, White Sox and Mariners pitching coach Nardi Contreras has been the Yankees' roving pitching coordinator since 2005.

Most of the high-profile, established pitching coaches already have jobs. The Yankees would have been interested in hiring Dave Duncan, but he signed a two-year extension Monday to stay with St. Louis.

Manager Joe Girardi had nothing to do with the move, but once he signs a contract extension, he'll take part in choosing Eiland's successor.

Cashman praised Eiland as "a terrific pitching coach" and made it clear he'll pass on a good recommendation to any club interested in his services.

After Cashman called him Monday morning and told him he won't be retained, Eiland immediately reached out to agent Burton Rocks, who represents some major-league managers and coaches.

The Red Sox and A's have openings for a pitching coach. The A's appear a more likely landing point, as their manager, Bob Geren, played with Eiland in the Yankees' organization. The A's just let Curt Young go.

Eiland, a native of the Tampa area, had a connection with the late George Steinbrenner, who often displayed affection toward athletes from the city where he made his home.

After a nondescript playing career in which he went 12-27 with a 5.74 ERA in 92 major-league games from 1988 through 2000 - 36 of those with the Yankees (1988-91 and 1995) - Eiland joined the Yankees as a coach for Class A Staten Island and climbed up the organizational ladder until Cashman appointed him as Ron Guidry's successor for the 2008 season.

Eiland earned respect for interpersonal skills, technical knowledge and willingness to use statistical analysis. But his job security turned tenuous in the middle of the season, and Eiland couldn't gain back the faith of his employers.