Latest Aaron Boone – MLB Trade Rumors

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

Boone, 51, is in the final days of his seventh season as Yankee captain. The club enjoyed great success during this time, reaching the postseason in six of those seven seasons. Still, many fans were unhappy with his tenure, perhaps due to the lack of postseason success or the fact that the club fell to an 82-80 record in 2023 and missed the playoffs entirely.

But the 2024 season was a big boost for the club. They went 94-68, won the American League East and had the best record in the AL. After getting a bye in 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 losing the first three games to the Dodgers. They managed to stay alive with a win in game four last night, but still have a steep road to victory ahead of them.

Many will be unhappy if the Yankees don't pull off an unprecedented comeback, but it's not particularly surprising that Boone appears to have earned some additional job security. How much a manager can influence on-field performance can be debated endlessly, but there is usually a rough correlation between positive results and keeping the job. With a strong regular season in 2024 and the club making it to the World Series for the first time since 2009, it would be a shock if Boone wasn't invited back for 2025.

Even if he is back in the coaching bench next year, the decision on the terms of the contract remains open. Generally, teams don't want their managers or front office members to be in lame-duck status, so the Yanks may not easily take up that option. The Yankees and Boone could agree to an extension, perhaps adding another guaranteed year or another option for 2026.

However, the Yankees have already let Boone get by as a lame duck. His original contract was a three-year deal starting in 2018 with a club option for 2021. Eventually they took up this option and he became captain of the club in 1921, whose future was uncertain. It wasn't until October 19 of the same year that it was announced that he would be returning. He and the club agreed on a new three-year contract for the 2022–24 season with the aforementioned option for 25.