If Aaron Judge has any say in the matter, Aaron Boone will return as manager of the New York Yankees in 2024.
The reigning American League MVP was asked by SNY.tv’s Andy Martino what he would say if Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner solicited his opinion about Boone keeping the job he’s had since December 2017.
“I want to answer that,” Judge said. “I’ve been with Boonie all the way since 2018. He’s the guy. … He has been there for us in good times and bad times. The guy shows up and supports his players. You can probably tell by the amount of times he’s been thrown out of games that he always has our back.”
This season has been a huge disappointment for the Yankees, though it’s unclear if Boone’s status with the team is at risk.
On Aug. 28, Martino reported the only way Boone would get fired is if Steinbrenner overruled general manager Brian Cashman and the baseball operations department.
“And that has never before happened with a managerial decision,” Martino wrote.
One high-ranking Yankees official told Martino that Boone is considered “an asset, not part of the problem.”
Even though the Yankees are unlikely to make the playoffs—they are seven games out of the final wild card spot with 22 games remaining—there have been some encouraging signs recently.
New York has been able to take a look at several young players with Everson Pereira, Austin Wells and Jasson Dominguez all being called up from the minors in recent weeks. The infusion of fresh talent has helped the team win eight of its last 10 games.
For all of the Yankees’ struggles this season, it’s hard to put the blame on Boone. They had the seventh-oldest roster in MLB to begin the year and were relying on oft-injured veterans like Josh Donaldson, Giancarlo Stanton, Luis Severino and Aaron Hicks.
Making matters worse was Carlos Rodón—New York’s big free-agent addition—missing the first three months of the season with a strained left forearm. He’s been ineffective with a 6.60 ERA in 10 starts since debuting on July 7
Judge missed two months due to a toe injury he suffered crashing into a wall making a catch in right field during a June 3 game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Anthony Rizzo has been on the injured list since Aug. 3 with post-concussion syndrome from an injury the team believes he suffered when Fernando Tatis Jr. accidentally collided with him on a pickoff throw at first base during a May 28 game.
Boone, who spent part of the 2003 season playing for the Yankees, took over for Joe Girardi as the team’s skipper. He has a 497-351 record and made the playoffs in each of his first five seasons, including ALCS appearances in 2019 and 2022.
The Yankees (70-70) are currently in last place in the AL East. They haven’t finished last in the division since 1990 and haven’t had a losing record since going 76-86 in 1992.
