Yankees re-sign Aaron Boone to new 3-year deal: ‘He’s been a good hire’
Kristie Ackert, New York Daily News
After nearly two weeks of looking at what went wrong with the 2021 season, the Yankees have decided that it wasn’t Aaron Boone’s fault. The manager had his expiring contract extended for three years with an option for 2025, the team announced Tuesday morning.
“Aaron Boone was part of the solution, and wasn’t the problem,” Yankees GM Brian Cashman said on a teleconference call Tuesday. “I think Aaron brings a lot of great qualities.”
Cashman pointed to Boone’s “great baseball mind” and his “ability to connect, to communicate, to be open-minded.”
“If he was entering the free-agent market, I believe he’d be the No.1 managerial candidate in baseball. He’s been a good hire.”
The new deal was not a surprise, considering that Boone had the support of the players. Cashman and managing partner Hal Steinbrenner made a point to say that it was not Boone’s fault when the team was floundering in early July. Perhaps the length of the contract, which is the same as his last one and exceeds Cashman’s own contract by at least two years, was surprising. Cashman said Tuesday there was no update on his contract, but a team source said they expect him to be extended at some point in the coming months.
“We have a person and manager in Aaron Boone who possesses the baseball acumen and widespread respect in our clubhouse to continue to guide us forward,” Steinbrenner said in a statement released by the team. “As a team and as an organization, we must grow, evolve and improve. We need to get better. Period. I know Aaron fully embraces our expectations of success, and I look forward to drawing on his intelligence, instincts and leadership in pursuit of our next World Series championship.”
Boone said the same thing about the Yankees needing to improve after they were crushed by the Red Sox in the American League Wild Card game two weeks ago.
“I don’t want to just say we need to get better, that’s obvious,” Boone said. “I think it’s important to acknowledge that. I do feel like we do have the people in place to get it done. There’s got to be tweaks, there’s got to be adjustments.”
“We’ve all got to get a little bit better and making sure we hold each other accountable and hold everyone accountable to the high expectations that we all have, that all our players have,” Boone added. “We believe that going into this year and really every year that I’ve been here, we believe that we’re a team capable of competing for a championship and that’s been our expectation and we’ve had varying degrees of success along the way.”
How the Yankees get better, however, goes much deeper than who is the manager.
There is no clear indication that there will be major organizational changes. While admitting this team was frustrating and at times unwatchable (Cashman said he ultimately had to take responsibility for that), the GM gave a strong defense of his front office — including pro scouting and analytics — and the organization’s process for decision making. Cashman said in particular that the criticism of the analytics department this season was not fair or correct.
Saying that unlike other markets, the Yankees are not in a position to tear down and rebuild like other teams, because “Yankee fans deserve” postseason hopes every year.
He did admit that they will look at how they constructed their roster, saying this year the Yankees weren’t as athletic or contact-oriented as they would like to be. “We’ll evaluate what’s available and how those pieces may fit.”
The Yankees went 50-29 in their final 79 games of the regular season, dating back to July 6 and around the time Steinbrenner spoke. That was the fourth-best record in the majors during that span, trailing only the Giants (54-24), Dodgers (53-24) and Rays (51-26).
Of course, at the time he backed Boone, Steinbrenner also said it wasn’t the coaching staff’s fault either. But the Yankees ended last week with the decision to part ways with hitting coaches Marcus Thames and P.J. Pilittere and third base coach Phil Nevin.
Those moves were seen as another step to get the on-field baseball operations management more in line with the organization’s focus on analytics. Boone was hired after the 2017 loss in the ALCS as someone who would cooperate with the front office and the analytics department and as a former player who could help translate that information down to help the players use it on a daily basis.
Boone, 48, is 328-218 in four seasons as the Yankees manager, his first four managing at any level. He is just the second manager in baseball history to reach the postseason in each of his first four years managing, joining Mike Matheny (2012-15 with St. Louis). He is the third manager to make the playoffs in each of his first four seasons with the Yankees, joining Casey Stengel (five from 1949-53) and Joe Torre (12 from 1996-2007).
Boone’s 328 career managerial wins rank ninth on the Yankees’ all-time list, behind Joe McCarthy (1,460-867), Torre (1,173-767), Stengel (1,149-696), Miller Huggins (1,067-719), Ralph Houk (944-806), Joe Girardi (910-710), Billy Martin (556-385) and Clark Griffith (419-370).
Feds charge 18 ex-NBA players with $4 million fraud involving league’s health care plan
Marcio Jose Sanchez
A rematch of the 2018 World Series won by Boston — except now Mookie Betts is playing for Los Angeles. Alex Verdugo went to the Red Sox in that trade, and they also have ex-Dodgers Nathan Eovaldi and Kiké Hernández playing significant roles.
Marcio Jose Sanchez
A rematch of the 2018 World Series won by Boston — except now Mookie Betts is playing for Los Angeles. Alex Verdugo went to the Red Sox in that trade, and they also have ex-Dodgers Nathan Eovaldi and Kiké Hernández playing significant roles.
Feds charge 18 ex-NBA players with $4 million fraud involving league’s health care plan
Kevin M. Cox
No need for any deep digging on this matchup. When Houston’s sign-stealing scheme came to light, Dodgers fans were among the most aggrieved, because they lost to the Astros in the 2017 World Series. Former Dodgers star Dusty Baker now manages Houston.
Kevin M. Cox
No need for any deep digging on this matchup. When Houston’s sign-stealing scheme came to light, Dodgers fans were among the most aggrieved, because they lost to the Astros in the 2017 World Series. Former Dodgers star Dusty Baker now manages Houston.
Feds charge 18 ex-NBA players with $4 million fraud involving league’s health care plan
Alex Gallardo
There might be more familiarity and hostility in a Dodgers-Astros or Dodgers-Red Sox matchup, but there’s a lot to recommend Dodgers-White Sox. For one thing, it would give Chicago manager Tony La Russa a World Series rematch with Los Angeles after he was on the wrong end of Kirk Gibson’s famous home run in 1988, when the Dodgers beat Oakland. This could also be the best starting pitching matchup of the remaining possibilities.
Alex Gallardo
There might be more familiarity and hostility in a Dodgers-Astros or Dodgers-Red Sox matchup, but there’s a lot to recommend Dodgers-White Sox. For one thing, it would give Chicago manager Tony La Russa a World Series rematch with Los Angeles after he was on the wrong end of Kirk Gibson’s famous home run in 1988, when the Dodgers beat Oakland. This could also be the best starting pitching matchup of the remaining possibilities.
Feds charge 18 ex-NBA players with $4 million fraud involving league’s health care plan
Adam Hunger
The Fangraphs probabilities are not friendly to the 100-win Rays, but they’ll have the Dodgers’ attention if the teams meet in the World Series for a second straight year. The last time both pennant winners repeated was in 1977 and 1978, when the Yankees beat the Dodgers in the World Series both times.
Adam Hunger
The Fangraphs probabilities are not friendly to the 100-win Rays, but they’ll have the Dodgers’ attention if the teams meet in the World Series for a second straight year. The last time both pennant winners repeated was in 1977 and 1978, when the Yankees beat the Dodgers in the World Series both times.
Feds charge 18 ex-NBA players with $4 million fraud involving league’s health care plan
Charles Krupa
Milwaukee and Boston used to share a division in the AL East, but the teams don’t have much of a memorable history with each other. The Brewers finished two games behind the division champion Red Sox in 1988, but even that wasn’t really a head-to-head race. The top four AL East teams finished within two games of each other that year.
Charles Krupa
Milwaukee and Boston used to share a division in the AL East, but the teams don’t have much of a memorable history with each other. The Brewers finished two games behind the division champion Red Sox in 1988, but even that wasn’t really a head-to-head race. The top four AL East teams finished within two games of each other that year.
Feds charge 18 ex-NBA players with $4 million fraud involving league’s health care plan
David J. Phillip
Zack Greinke pitching against his former team in Milwaukee would be an interesting subplot here. Also, Brewers president David Stearns was once an assistant general manager for the Astros.
David J. Phillip
Zack Greinke pitching against his former team in Milwaukee would be an interesting subplot here. Also, Brewers president David Stearns was once an assistant general manager for the Astros.
Feds charge 18 ex-NBA players with $4 million fraud involving league’s health care plan
Phil Long
The travel would be a breeze between two ballparks about 100 miles apart. Avisaíl García, a former White Sox outfielder, hit 29 homers this year for Milwaukee. Switch-hitting catcher Yasmani Grandal spent a year with the Brewers before joining the White Sox after the 2019 season.
Phil Long
The travel would be a breeze between two ballparks about 100 miles apart. Avisaíl García, a former White Sox outfielder, hit 29 homers this year for Milwaukee. Switch-hitting catcher Yasmani Grandal spent a year with the Brewers before joining the White Sox after the 2019 season.
Feds charge 18 ex-NBA players with $4 million fraud involving league’s health care plan
Ben Margot
The Braves face the city they once called home, and they’ll hope this goes better for Atlanta than its matchup with the Boston area in the Super Bowl following the 2016 NFL season. Be ready for some “28-3” signs at Fenway Park.
Ben Margot
The Braves face the city they once called home, and they’ll hope this goes better for Atlanta than its matchup with the Boston area in the Super Bowl following the 2016 NFL season. Be ready for some “28-3” signs at Fenway Park.
Feds charge 18 ex-NBA players with $4 million fraud involving league’s health care plan
Brandon Wade
Craig Kimbrel vs. the Braves — although Kimbrel has struggled so much for Chicago it’s hard to say how important he’ll be in the postseason against his former team.
Brandon Wade
Craig Kimbrel vs. the Braves — although Kimbrel has struggled so much for Chicago it’s hard to say how important he’ll be in the postseason against his former team.
Feds charge 18 ex-NBA players with $4 million fraud involving league’s health care plan
Nick Wass
Boston has the most World Series titles this century with four, and San Francisco is second with three. These teams have generally stayed out of each other's way over the past couple of decades. The Giants didn’t make the playoffs in any of the four years the Red Sox won it all, and the Red Sox didn’t make it in the three seasons the Giants took the title.
Nick Wass
Boston has the most World Series titles this century with four, and San Francisco is second with three. These teams have generally stayed out of each other's way over the past couple of decades. The Giants didn’t make the playoffs in any of the four years the Red Sox won it all, and the Red Sox didn’t make it in the three seasons the Giants took the title.
Feds charge 18 ex-NBA players with $4 million fraud involving league’s health care plan
Jeff Chiu
This storyline is easy: Dusty Baker goes up against San Francisco, the team he began his managerial career with in 1993. Baker took the Giants to a World Series in 2002 — still his only pennant as a big league skipper — but they lost to the Angels in seven games that year.
Jeff Chiu
This storyline is easy: Dusty Baker goes up against San Francisco, the team he began his managerial career with in 1993. Baker took the Giants to a World Series in 2002 — still his only pennant as a big league skipper — but they lost to the Angels in seven games that year.
Feds charge 18 ex-NBA players with $4 million fraud involving league’s health care plan
David J. Phillip
The Giants were the New York Giants back in 1917, when the White Sox beat them in the World Series behind Red Faber’s three victories. Chicago did not win it all again for 88 years.
David J. Phillip
The Giants were the New York Giants back in 1917, when the White Sox beat them in the World Series behind Red Faber’s three victories. Chicago did not win it all again for 88 years.
Feds charge 18 ex-NBA players with $4 million fraud involving league’s health care plan
Alex Gallardo
These are the only two teams in the postseason this year that have never won the World Series. Tampa Bay traded shortstop Willy Adames to the Brewers in May. Star rookie Wander Franco has excelled in that spot for the Rays, but Adames hit 20 homers in 99 games after joining Milwaukee.
Alex Gallardo
These are the only two teams in the postseason this year that have never won the World Series. Tampa Bay traded shortstop Willy Adames to the Brewers in May. Star rookie Wander Franco has excelled in that spot for the Rays, but Adames hit 20 homers in 99 games after joining Milwaukee.
Feds charge 18 ex-NBA players with $4 million fraud involving league’s health care plan
Adam Hunger
The World Series goes to SEC football country. These two teams were one game away from meeting in last year’s Fall Classic, but Atlanta lost to the Dodgers in a seven-game NL Championship Series.
Adam Hunger
The World Series goes to SEC football country. These two teams were one game away from meeting in last year’s Fall Classic, but Atlanta lost to the Dodgers in a seven-game NL Championship Series.
Feds charge 18 ex-NBA players with $4 million fraud involving league’s health care plan
Jeff Chiu
Yes, that's correct: The Fangraphs numbers say this matchup between the two top seeds is actually the least likely. Evan Longoria is one of the top players in Tampa Bay's young history, but after 10 seasons there he was traded to the Giants. He's been with San Francisco for four seasons and still has good power when healthy.
Jeff Chiu
Yes, that's correct: The Fangraphs numbers say this matchup between the two top seeds is actually the least likely. Evan Longoria is one of the top players in Tampa Bay's young history, but after 10 seasons there he was traded to the Giants. He's been with San Francisco for four seasons and still has good power when healthy.
Yankees re-sign Aaron Boone to new 3-year deal: ‘He’s been a good hire’
Mike Stobe/Getty Images North America/TNS
Gerrit Cole (45) of the New York Yankees hands the ball to manager Aaron Boone (17) after being removed in the sixth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Yankee Stadium on September 19, 2021 in New York City. (Mike Stobe/Getty Images/TNS)
Mike Stobe/Getty Images North America/TNS
Gerrit Cole (45) of the New York Yankees hands the ball to manager Aaron Boone (17) after being removed in the sixth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Yankee Stadium on September 19, 2021 in New York City. (Mike Stobe/Getty Images/TNS)
