BREAKING: Red Sox Alex Cora Sends Strong Message on Yankees Manager Aaron Boone

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora had a rare moment of praise for his team’s biggest rival, the New York Yankees. Cora recently complimented Yankees manager Aaron Boone, who has faced significant criticism throughout his tenure. Whether that criticism is justified or not, Cora’s stance on Boone is now clear.

Chris Kirschner of The Athletic shared Cora’s remark: “That guy over there, man, gets a lot of (expletive) from people but he’s one of the best.” Since taking over as Yankees manager in 2018, Boone has led the team to three AL East titles, three ALCS appearances, and finally secured a pennant last fall. Though the Yankees fell short in the World Series, it was a milestone season that may have extended Boone’s time in charge.

Managing the Yankees comes with unique challenges—fan and media scrutiny, along with internal pressure to win, means anything less than multiple championships is seen as a failure. Despite some postseason disappointments, Boone has done a strong job, with the Yankees finishing lower than second in the division just once (a fourth-place finish in 2023 when Aaron Judge missed over 50 games). The team has never posted a losing record under Boone, including two 100+ win seasons in 2018 and 2019.

Still, the absence of a championship weighs on him. Like his predecessor Joe Girardi—who won a World Series in 2009 but was let go after losing the 2017 ALCS—Boone faces mounting pressure to deliver a title. Yet, he remains respected by both his players and peers. With another season ahead, he and Cora will once again battle as both franchises aim for a division crown in 2025.