Latest on Aaron Boone – MLB Trade Rumors

Yankees manager Aaron Boone is in the final guaranteed year of his contract, although the Yanks can retain him through 2025 via a club option. Boone told Chris Kirschner of The Athletic yesterday (X link) that he was focused on the World Series and had not had any recent contract negotiations. Jon Heyman of The New York Post writes that the club is expected to “at least” pick up that option, suggesting Boone is likely back next year.

Boone, 51, is in the final days of his seventh season as Yankee skipper. The club has enjoyed plenty of success during that time, reaching the postseason in six of those seven seasons. Nevertheless, many fans have been unhappy with his tenure, perhaps due to the lack of postseason success or the fact that the club dropped to an 82–80 record in 2023 and missed the playoffs entirely.

But the 2024 campaign was a major setback for the club. They went 94-68, won the American League East and had the best record in the AL. After earning a bye through the Wild Card round, they defeated the Royals in the ALDS and the Guardians in the ALCS.

The World Series has been a challenge so far, with the Yanks dropping the first three games to the Dodgers. They managed to stay alive with a win in game four last night, but still face a steep road to victory.

Many will be unhappy if the Yankees can’t pull off an unprecedented comeback, but it’s not terribly surprising that Boone has apparently earned himself some extra job security. How much a manager can influence performance on the pitch is something that can be endlessly debated, but there is usually a rough correlation between positive results and keeping the gig. With the strong 2024 regular season and the club making the World Series for the first time since 2009, it would be a shock if Boone wasn’t invited back for 2025.

Although he is back in the dugout next year, what remains to be decided is what the contract will look like. In general, teams don’t like their managers or front office members to be in lame-duck status, so the Yanks may not simply pick up on the opportunity. The Yankees and Boone could agree to some kind of extension, perhaps adding another guaranteed year or another option for 2026.

However, the Yankees let Boone do like a lame duck once before. His original contract was a three-year deal starting in 2018 with a club option for 2021. They eventually took up that option and he captained the club in ’21 with his future uncertain. It was not until October 19 of that year that it was reported that he would be coming back. He and the club agreed a new three-year deal for the 2022–24 season with the aforementioned option for ’25.