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New York Yankees: World Series only resource for Boone getting extension

By Thomas Conroy

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - OCTOBER 07: Aaron Boone #17 of the New York Yankees looks on during batting practice prior to game three of the American League Division Series against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on October 07, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - OCTOBER 07: Aaron Boone #17 of the New York Yankees looks on during batting practice prior to game three of the American League Division Series against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on October 07, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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New York Yankees
New York Yankees joint owner Hal Steinbrenner (Photo by Kirsty O’Connor/PA Images via Getty Images) /

New York Yankees Aaron Boone is in the option year of his contract and you get the impression that he must win a World Series to get a contract extension.

An old baseball adage goes that managers are hired only to be fired.

Thus, it’s never easy to manage a team with high expectations, but that is facing New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone heading into spring training next month. Adding a starting pitcher like Gerrit Cole was a top priority for the Yankees this offseason. A major free agent signing of this nature places them as the prohibitive favorites to win the 2020 World Series.

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But at the same time, it puts tremendous pressure on Boone to win heading into his option year of his four-year deal. And being the last manager standing come October might be his only resource in getting a contract extension from Yankees Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner.

Since George Steinbrenner purchased the Yankees from CBS in 1973, this ownership period (2008-present) under his son, Hal, has been the most tranquil as only two people (Joe Girardi and Boone) have held the managerial position. So discussing possible changes has been an uncommon practice in the Bronx of late. This wasn’t his father’s approach of running the Yankees as most managers (20 hired in Steinbrenner’s first 23 years at the helm) were on the hot seat the day they were hired until the end of their tenure.

Hal has done a terrific job of staying above the fray when media speculation arises on the job security status of any Yankees front office personnel. However, another disappointing postseason result will not be tolerated by him, especially after opening his checkbook to secure a big-ticket item such as Cole. Patience is running thin in the Bronx from the owner’s suite all the way out to the Bleacher’s Creatures in right field. They all expect the Yankees to be playing baseball well until Halloween each fall.

Like or not, this high standard was first established by his father and continued by Hal today. The success of the Yankees is based upon World Series championships and not by winning a division title or appearing in the American League Championship Series (ALCS). Hal will have no qualms about moving on from Boone if winning a World Series isn’t achieved in 2020. If you need an example, only look at Boone’s predecessor as Girardi was let go after coming one game short of leading the Yankees to their 41st appearance in the Fall Classic during the 2017 MLB playoffs.

It has been a while since the New York Yankees were “The Toast of New York” as this moniker includes a ticker-tape parade down the Canyon of Heroes in Manhattan’s Financial District to celebrate another championship. In fact, the 2010s was the first decade of the Yankees’ existence that the franchise didn’t win at least one World Series. They haven’t won a title since 2009 as the Yankees have lost their last four ALCS appearances. For the owner and his fan base, this period of time is an eternity.

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