Breaking: Aaron Boone faces four major terms to meet or get fired

Managing the New York Yankees is one of the most coveted positions in sports, but as Peter Parker’s Uncle Ben famously said, “With great power comes great responsibility.”

Although Spider-Man and his uncle are Mets fans, this famous quote could easily apply to Aaron Boone right now. Boone is in his seventh season as the Yankees’ manager, and during this time, the team hasn’t added to its record 27 World Series titles or even secured a single pennant. Despite the more lenient approach of Yankees ownership since George Steinbrenner’s passing, there will come a time when fans’ patience runs out.

The Yankees are currently 68-47, tied for first in the AL East with the Baltimore Orioles, but make no mistake—Boone’s job is in jeopardy if the team falters between now and October. Here are four scenarios that could force Brian Cashman to make a change and remove Boone from the Bronx.

Finish behind the Red Sox

One thing no true Yankee fan can tolerate is losing to the Red Sox. For much of the season, this hasn’t been a major concern. Boston struggled around the .500 mark for the first few months, but since taking two of three from the Yankees in mid-June, Alex Cora’s team has surged, narrowing the gap between the teams from 13 games to just six.

The Yankees are currently tied with the Orioles for first place in the AL East. While finishing behind Baltimore would be painful, it would also be somewhat understandable, given the Orioles’ young, talented roster and their 101-win season last year. However, finishing behind the Red Sox is a different story altogether. Boston was expected to finish last this year, while both the Yankees and Orioles are in a “World Series or bust” mindset.

Boston has already won five of nine games against the Yankees this season, with only a critical four-game series at Yankee Stadium in September remaining. Tensions will be high for that series, and if the Red Sox manage to overtake the Yankees in the standings, it could mark the beginning of the end for Boone.

The Yankees made a big move by acquiring Juan Soto this past offseason. They’ve enjoyed an outstanding rookie season from Luis Gil, and Aaron Judge might hit 60 homers again. They can’t afford to waste this opportunity. Falling behind Boston would be disastrous on its own, but it could also lead to the Yankees missing the playoffs entirely, with the Twins and Royals close behind. If that happens, Boone might need a security detail to leave New York.

Mismanage the pitching staff

Nothing can put a manager in hot water faster than mishandling his pitching staff. Boone faces a particularly challenging task in this regard, as most of his pitchers have struggled with injuries throughout their careers.

Carlos Rodon and Nestor Cortes each missed significant time last year. Former ace Gerrit Cole has made just eight starts this season due to an elbow injury early on. Luis Gil, returning from Tommy John surgery in 2022, is only a few starts away from surpassing his total innings pitched in the last three seasons combined. Will he hit the rookie wall? Then there’s Marcus Stroman, whose most recent start was pushed back, and Clarke Schmidt, who’s been sidelined with a lat strain but is expected to return sometime this month.

Boone not only needs to keep his fragile starting rotation intact, but he also needs to manage his bullpen effectively. So far, he’s done a commendable job. Michael Tonkin has been impressive since joining the Yankees after unsuccessful stints with the Twins and Mets earlier this season. While Clay Holmes has had his ups and downs as closer, with nine blown saves, he still boasts a 2.70 ERA. Luke Weaver and Tommy Kahnle have been reliable, eating up innings and contributing to the Yankees’ ranking of second in the AL and fourth in the majors in bullpen ERA. However, Kahnle missed the start of the season with shoulder inflammation, so Boone will need to manage his health carefully. Ian Hamilton has been on the injured list since May.

Boone has faced criticism for his bullpen management throughout his tenure as Yankees manager. With fewer than 50 games left in the regular season and the pressure of the playoffs ahead, every late-game decision will be scrutinized. If Boone makes a costly mistake when it matters most, it could be the point of no return.

Get bounced in the Wild Card Series

Making the playoffs is no longer a surefire way to secure future job stability. Since MLB expanded the playoff field to six teams per league in 2022, it’s now possible for teams to reach the postseason without winning their division—even finishing third or fourth could still see them playing deep into October.

If the Yankees end up in the Wild Card Series, it would mean they lost the division to the Orioles. They’d likely face another Wild Card team like the Twins, Royals, or Red Sox, and the Yankees would be heavily favored against any of these opponents. The Yankees have historically dominated the Twins in the playoffs, and the Royals would likely be viewed as just happy to have made it that far. As for the Red Sox, we’ve already discussed what a loss to them would mean, but on paper, and in terms of payroll, the Yankees clearly have the superior roster.

It’s worth noting that Joe Girardi was dismissed as Yankees manager after losing in Game 7 of the ALCS to the Astros. Boone has reached the ALCS twice himself, but the last time was two years ago, ending in a humiliating four-game sweep. After missing the playoffs last year, a slight improvement that results in a Wild Card exit would likely be the final straw for Boone.

Fall short of the World Series

This point ties closely with the prospect of losing in the Wild Card Series, but honestly, the bar for Boone should be set much higher than merely guiding the Yankees to the final four in the American League. We’re talking about the Yankees here, not a franchise where simply making the playoffs would be considered a success.

Joe Girardi managed the Yankees for 10 seasons, largely benefiting from the World Series title he won in his second year. That championship gave him a cushion, but Boone doesn’t have that luxury. Adding to the pressure is the fact that the Yankees and Orioles are almost certainly the two favorites to represent the American League in the World Series. The AL West is weak this year, with the defending champion Rangers and perennial contenders like the Astros currently on the outside looking in. The division-leading Mariners aren’t striking fear in anyone either. The Guardians might pose the biggest threat to a Yankees-Orioles ALCS, but they’ve been eliminated by the Yankees in two of the last four years.

The Yankees haven’t reached the World Series since 2009, which feels like an eternity for baseball’s most storied franchise. Aaron Boone is running out of excuses and time. Anything less than a World Series appearance with this roster should be seen as a failure that warrants dismissal.