Manager Aaron Boone discussed his New York Yankees future less than 24 hours after All-Star slugger Aaron Judge raised eyebrows with interesting comments following the club’s official elimination from playoff contention.
Shortly after the Yankees’ playoff hopes ended via Sunday’s 7-1 loss to Arizona, Judge directly said that the Bronx Bombers have “got a lot to work on, a lot of things to change and a lot of stuff going on around here that need to be fixed.” The reigning American League Most Valuable Player previously defended Boone and didn’t openly suggest Sunday that the clubhouse needs a new voice, but the skipper hinted Monday he understands Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner will react following what Steinbrenner referred to as an “obviously unacceptable” season back in late August.
Steinbrenner reportedly will retain senior vice president and general manager Brian Cashman through at least this offseason. On Sunday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today noted that the Yankees “are expected” to hold onto Boone, who guided the club to the playoffs each year from 2018 through 2022.
Boone has a year remaining on his contract that includes a club option for 2025.
The Yankees began Monday at 78-77 and have never posted a losing season under Cashman’s watch since he became the club’s general manager in 1998. Boone’s updated task is to keep that streak alive even though he knows he’ll watch the postseason from home.