There will be more pressure on Yankees manager Aaron Boone next season.
He might need to get to the World Series to save his job.
With only a year and a club option remaining on his contract, Boone might not even make it through the 2024 season if the Yankees get off to a slow start. After all, they’re coming of an 82-80, no-playoffs disaster and one of the club’s biggest offseason moves thus far has been adding his potential successor to the coaching staff.
When Boone lost his bench coach last month — Carlos Mendoza was hired as Mets manager — the position was filled by Brad Ausmus, who has five seasons of big-league managing experience.
Boone’s Winter Meetings media availability was Tuesday and his uncertain future came up during his 25-minute Q&A.
When Boone was asked if he’s feeling unsettled, he responded, “No! No! You guys know me well enough that I’m consumed with getting back to the playoffs of winning it all. That’s where my brain and that’s where my focus is. what my role is. Whatever happens at the end of it, that’s truly is out of my control right now.”
It is out of Boone’s control. A ton of injuries, a flawed roster and bad seasons to veteran players sabotaged the Yankees’ 2023 season.
None of that was Boone’s fault, but his status for 2024 was in the air until owner Hal Steinbrenner made the call in October to stay the course.
Next year’s Yankees might not be any better if GM Brian Cashman doesn’t fill holes with star players this winter. Currently, the Yankees are trying to work a deal with the Padres for left fielder Juan Soto and hoping to sign free agent pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, a 25-year-old righty who was posted by his Japanese team last month on the heels of three consecutive league MVPs.
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