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.
“I don’t worry about it. It’s, again, out of my hands,” Boone said about his job status ahead of Monday’s home game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, per Alex Smith of SNY. “I’m completely comfortable with who I am and the things I can control. My job is to, in my mind, doing everything to head into the offseason to prepare to put us in a better position to try to compete for a championship. That’s what the goal is. Until they take that away, that’s my focus.”
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.
“I think there are things that we need to change and fix and make sure we’re on the same page with everything, and we’ll be asking those questions and kind of deep diving into every part of our organization and making sure we’re in a better place and better able to sustain and fortify and absorb the inevitable adversities that a [162-game season has] and the challenges it brings,” Boone explained.
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 reality of it hits yesterday when you hear and know you’re eliminated, even though you realize the last couple of weeks you’re up against it and everything has to fall in place perfectly and it’s a little bit of a miracle at that point,” Boone added about his disappointment regarding the team’s campaign.
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.
