Aaron Boone signed a two-year contract extension that will take him through the 2027 season, and Keith McPherson has no issue with the manager earning another two years on his deal after leading the Yankees to a pennant last season.
But, Keith added that the extension means that the clock is ticking for Boone to finish the job, or else his tenure in the Bronx will ultimately be seen as a failure.
“I don’t mind Aaron Boone getting an extension. But in two years, you gotta win,” Keith said. “If it’s not this year, gotta be the year after.
“After that, we’re cooked. Judge is old, Cole is old, Stanton probably can’t walk. We’re done after that. Boone has to win one with this group of Yankees.”
The Yankees are expected to be one of the top contenders in a weaker American League in 2025, but Judge, Cole, and Stanton are all above 31 years old, so Boone has to get that elusive title sooner than later to be remembered fondly by Yankee fans whenever his time as skipper comes to an end.
As for the Boone critics, Keith says many are missing the mark, especially those harping on the decision to bring in Nestor Cortes to face Shohei Ohtani and eventually Freddie Freeman in game one of the World Series.
“If you think Aaron Boone was the one who stood up in the meeting and said ‘Nestor is available, we can pitch him in game one against Ohtani,’ no,” Keith said. “The Yankees got cute and they got got…Brian Cashman and his group…they felt good about him in that spot.
“Just the negative things get mentioned. I’m excited for Aaron Boone to try and finish what he started with this Yankee team.”