SAN ANTONIO — New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman appears to be leaning towards retaining manager Aaron Boone for another season, defending his team against recent critiques by Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Joe Kelly regarding the Yankees’ lackluster defensive performance in the World Series.
During the general managers meetings, Cashman expressed his admiration for Boone, stating, “I’m a big Aaron Boone fan. I think he’s a great manager and we’re lucky to have him.” Under Boone’s leadership, the Yankees have achieved a record of 603 wins and 429 losses, with three American League East titles and one pennant over the course of seven seasons. Following a five-game defeat to the Dodgers in the World Series the previous week, Boone mentioned that considerations surrounding his future were not currently on his mind.
Boone signed a three-year contract in October 2021, which includes a team option for the 2025 season. Cashman noted that the deadline to discuss this option would be ten days after the World Series concludes, and he intends to address both the option and potential contract negotiations. “I can’t put the cart ahead of the horse. We haven’t gotten there,” he remarked.
Cashman took care to defend Boone’s decisions made during the playoffs, highlighting the challenge of managing a team in high-pressure situations. He stated, “The manager’s job is so impossible, so you can play the game of second-guessing because sometimes a move is right, and other times it’s wrong.” He further reinforced his belief in Boone’s capabilities, saying, “I think he’s a really, really good manager. I think that we’re lucky to have him. He’s done a great job.”
Acknowledging the disappointing performance in the World Series, Cashman emphasized the poor play exhibited during crucial moments. Highlighting a critical error in Game 1, the Yankees lost a 10th-inning lead when Freddie Freeman hit a game-winning grand slam off pitcher Nestor Cortes. After initially losing three games, they managed to win Game 4 but squandered a significant 5-0 lead in Game 5 due to fielding mistakes and failed plays, culminating in a 7-6 loss to the Dodgers.
“First and foremost, I acknowledge that we played poorly in the World Series,” admitted Cashman. “Unfortunately, our ‘A’ game didn’t show up when it counted the most.”
Kelly, who missed a majority of the season due to shoulder injuries and did not pitch in the postseason, aired his grievances regarding the Yankees’ defensive lapses on his podcast, “Baseball Isn’t Boring.” He described their play as “sloppy” and noted, “We were saying every single game: Just let them throw the ball into the infield. They can’t make a play.” He highlighted a particular instance where Gleyber Torres’ error allowed Shohei Ohtani to advance, further detailing that the Yankees’ performance presented a mismatch in the postseason.
Kelly expressed that if rankings were adjusted for playoff performance, the Yankees might not even make the cut for the top teams, mentioning that other teams like the Padres and Phillies would be considered superior.
In response to Kelly’s comments, Cashman stated, “I heard that. I also know people within the Dodgers organization, so I have some internal perspectives. I think it’s more representative of some specific players rather than the overall group.” He noted that Kelly’s remarks seem to carry a personal tone, making them feel a bit more pointed. Cashman also refuted the claim that the Yankees’ roster was poorly constructed, explaining that it is quite common for players to excel in certain areas while struggling in others, such as defense and baserunning. “At some point you manage the people you have,” he concluded, referring to the importance of understanding each player’s unique strengths and weaknesses.