Yankees manager Aaron Boone is feeling somewhat irked by critiques of his team’s defense, especially recent comments from Dodgers pitcher Joe Kelly. During a Zoom press conference after New York exercised his 2025 option, Boone stood by his team’s overall defensive effort despite some high-profile mistakes during the World Series. “I think this story got overblown because of a tough inning,” Boone explained. “If you look at our season as a whole, there were many times we won games thanks to key defensive plays or smart small ball.”
In Game 5, New York surrendered a five-run lead after errors by center fielder Aaron Judge and shortstop Anthony Volpe, along with pitcher Gerrit Cole’s failure to cover first base, ultimately letting the Dodgers win 7-6 and claim the championship. Reflecting on the painful end to their season, Boone admitted, “The sting of not finishing it will stay with you forever.”
Kelly, on his “Baseball Isn’t Boring” podcast, shared that the Dodgers entered each game thinking, “Just let them throw the ball into the infield. They can’t make a play.” Boone acknowledged that the Yankees didn’t perform up to their standards, particularly in that Game 5 inning, but downplayed outside opinions, saying he’s “proud” of the team’s season and always looking for improvement.
Boone, who has led the Yankees to a 603-429 record with three AL East titles and one pennant, is under a three-year deal signed in 2021, including an option for 2025. While no talks have occurred yet about an extension beyond next season, he’s “ready and excited” for 2025.
Looking forward, Boone is preparing to meet with team owner Hal Steinbrenner and free agent Juan Soto, whose .288 average, 41 home runs, 109 RBIs, and 129 walks helped drive the Yankees to their first World Series appearance since 2009. Boone expressed optimism, stating, “I’d love to keep him in pinstripes, but we know there’ll be strong competition.”
He also expects the Yankees to show interest in Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki, a 23-year-old phenom set to be posted for MLB teams this offseason. “He’s incredibly talented and has top-rotation potential. I’ve seen some of his highlights—he’s got a triple-digit fastball and a nasty forkball. He could certainly be a dominant ace here,” Boone noted.
As the team looks to next season, Boone anticipates at least one, possibly two, coaching changes.
