Home / MLB / Aaron Boone Announced As The Next Manager Of The Yankees: Brian Cashman Takes A Huge Gamble

Aaron Boone Announced As The Next Manager Of The Yankees: Brian Cashman Takes A Huge Gamble

Friday night, it was reported that former MLB player and ESPN analyst Aaron Boone would be the next manager of the New York Yankees. As a writer who covers the Yankees, I was dreading this decision. However, the 12-year veteran will now replace Joe Girardi as the skipper of the young and promising Yankees. Boone, who is responsible for one of the greatest postseason Yankee moments since 2000 (arguably ever), will be the 35th manager of the Bronx Bombers. After interviewing more than 20 different candidates, it seemingly came down to Boone and San Francisco Giants’ bench coach, Hensley Meulens. Other candidates included long time Yankees’ bench coach Rob Thompson, recently retired Carlos Beltran, and former manager Eric Wedge.

Why Aaron Boone?

On paper, this move seems to be completely illogical. Boone has been an ESPN analyst since 2010 (the year after he retired). He has never coached or managed at the MLB level. In addition to that, ESPN has not been well-known for their baseball coverage, which included a lot of Aaron Boone in the booth. Personally, I did not like Boone’s commentary during games and thought his analysis of different aspects of the game were weak. However, there is a difference between being a commentator and managing a baseball team.

While this move is confusing, it should not shock anybody. I mean, Carlos Beltran was brought in for an interview and he retired a month ago. How does Boone get the job? It is because he is a likeable guy who will listen to Brian Cashman. Now, that is not to say Boone will be a figurehead for the team while Cashman does all of the dirty work. However, Cashman (and other MLB general managers) want to have more control over their teams. Aaron Boone is a perfect candidate to have a working relationship with Cashman. Also, Boone is a well-liked person who should connect well with the younger players. That is one of the larger factors as to why Girardi was not retained.

But Still, Why?

This hiring is still perplexing though. It is one thing to hire someone with little managerial or coaching experience (i.e. Mike Matheny), but Aaron Boone has none. He has not been within the MLB since retiring in 2009. Sure, he has been covering the game for ESPN, but that is different than being in the clubhouse on a daily basis. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic said that he “cannot remember a team hiring a manager with this level of risk.” The Yankees have not hired a manager with this little experience since Bill Dickey in 1946.

While it is not a requirement, some prior MLB (or minor league even) coaching experience would be nice for the next manager of the New York Yankees. Brian Cashman and the Yankees’ organization are comfortable with Boone, mostly because he checks off all of the other boxes. Will Aaron Boone be a success? I am sceptical but I will not write him off immediately. With the talent on the roster, it will difficult to be terrible. However, Boone needs to (as Carlos Beltran was planning on doing) surround himself with coaches who have managerial experience.

Brian Cashman Playing a Risky Game

This is Brian Cashman’s guy. The hiring of Aaron Boone will ultimately rest upon the shoulders of the longtime Yankees general manager. If Boone fails, Cashman will likely see his time with the organization come to an end. Heading into the managerial search, it was clear what type of manager Cashman was looking for: a manager who he can have a steady level of control over. Aaron Boone perfectly fits that mold. He is a former Yankee who is personable, enjoys the new wave of baseball statistics, and has no managerial experience. This combines to a manager who will go with what the general manager will say. For example, if the Yankees sign player X and Cashman wants him used in a certain way, it is almost a guarantee that said player X will be used as Cashman wishes.

This is a dangerous game that Brian Cashman is playing, though. Attempting to coach from behind the scenes is difficult to do. Even with all the statistics in the world, there is still a need for a proper manager to make baseball decisions in the heat of a game. Sometimes the numbers do not work out well. Did the numbers indicate that the Yankees were going to knock around Corey Kluber? No. Was Charlie Morton supposed to shut the Yankees’ offense down that much? No. The Houston Astros have the correct balance with their manager, AJ Hinch. Maybe Aaron Boone will be the next Hinch. Or this will blow up in the face of Brian Cashman. Only time will tell.

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Griffin Fuller

Former Division 1 pitcher at Stetson University with an immense passion for the game of baseball. Grew up playing baseball from the age of 3. Student of the game of baseball in every aspect.Located out of Debary, Florida.
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  • ricter

    Another well written and professional article, Griffin. I was looking forward to your analysis on this.

    I completely agree with you on all points (except one), especially with how poor Boone’s actual commentary was and how sometimes he would say things that just had everyone scratching their heads. I don’t think I ever heard him say something in the broadcaster’s booth that really made a whole lot of sense. He never came across as someone who was all that “intelligent”, and to me he was a physically gifted person who grew up in a baseball life, but not necessarily someone with what I would call “acumen”.

    The one point I disagreed with is that I do think this is a very easy situation for Boone to sink this team. As likeable as Boone may be, it doesn’t mean that he would command the respect of hard-headed guys like Sanchez and Betances. As soon as one of these Yankee players gets into a slump, Boone won’t have the faintest clue how to handle them. And as smart as Cashman is, he is not in the dugout, not in the clubhouse, and not on the field with these players every day. And the second that Boone tries to actually attempt to manage without front office approval, there will be tension and Boone will be on an island. He may even be the fall guy should this team under produce early.

    This is a really bad situation for the Yankees, and the fact that they now have 2 steps away from a Robo-manager means that the front office is spending more time reading fangraphs then they are owrrying about real-life baseball. This will be, unfortunately, Cashman’s Waterloo. I think Boone makes it through the season, but I see him getting cut loose with Cashman after this experiment blows up. I hope, for their sake, that NY wins the whole thing this year. Because if they don’t get past game 7 of the ALCS, this whole experiment is a failure.

    • Griffin Fuller

      Thanks for the kind words and the comment.

      I completely agree with you about Boone’s commentary. Boone’s analysis never went too deep. Most of the time, it felt like he was only stating the obvious for anybody who already knew a thing about baseball.

      Boone’s biggest player test this coming season will be Gary Sanchez. One of the other big factors for the decision to not retain Girardi had to be the absolute atrocity that was the defense of Gary Sanchez. Now, no one should expect Boone or his staff to turn Sanchez into a Gold Glover. However, Boone needs to be bump him up from his current spot.

      In my opinion, Cashman is now tied to Boone. If Boone fails, Cashman goes down with him. Cashman has hitched his wagon to Aaron Boone. Unless the Yankees tank this coming season, Boone will remain a manager for more than a season. Boone’s expectation is getting this team to a World Series within 3 seasons. Anything short of that will be a failure.

      • ricter

        I agree.

        But this team was being set up for a late-90’s type run, not just one series.

        If NY ONLY wins one series in the next three years, well, then it will be a disappointment. That sounds kinda harsh, but the way this team was being built was not a 2001 Diamonbacks type one-and-done deal.

        Look at the Astros. They are set up for the next 3 years. They could easily win 2 out of three. The Yankees were supposed to be that team that would have a run like that, so I think 2018 is being set up to be a wasted year. I’m not happy, as a fan.

        And YES, you nailed it. Cashman is going to live and die with this hiring, and like I said on the other post, I believe this hiring may have affected the decision by Ohtani to look elsewhere. I believe his advisers and agent were scratching their heads over the hiring.

        • Griffin Fuller

          I believe this team is set up for multiple championships, however, the landscape of the MLB has about five teams who look to be poised to be contenders over the next three years. You named one with the Astros, but also the Cubs, Dodgers, and Indians. Some might be only the next year or so, but also there are numerous teams who could surprise people like the Yankees did in 2017. Also, there are the Red Sox who usually put out a contender and should be a good team again this coming season.

          The current roster indicates that this team should be a World Series contender on a yearly basis. But with 3-5 great and young teams out there, it is difficult to say that they have to win multiple championships like the team did in the 90s.

          • ricter

            Valid points.

            If what you are saying is correct, then this team is not being constructed right, in my opinion. They should be going after free agents and trades to get players in here that are in their prime already, not “developmental” young players that need 2-3 years to reach their peak form…and they all have to peak at the same time.

            To me, I don’t really understand what the plan is with this team. It seems like they are “in-between” here; are they contenders, or are they rebuilding?

            If they are going to contend, then why did they hire a developmental manager? Why are they sitting on prospects who are blocked? If they are rebuilding, then why would they sign Alex Cobb? Why wouldn’t they just bring up Chance Adams?

            I am pretty confused about this team today.

          • Griffin Fuller

            This might be the most confusing team in the MLB where they can be selling off veteran talent while bringing some in. I do not believe they see Aaron Boone as a developing manager, at least not Cashman. Boone is the surrogate for Cashman in the locker room.

            In regards to the prospects, it is tough to be a World Series contender when 2-3 positions will be filled with prospects. Gleyber Torres, Clint Frazier, Miguel Andujar, Chance Adams, and company are no sure bets. To be completely blunt, Aaron Judge is not a sure thing next year either. Jordan Montgomery is also in that same category. I think what the goal is to balance the roster with veterans with the rookies. Meanwhile, any veteran can be disposed of at the trade deadline if either 1) a prospect can replace them or 2) the team is not contending.

          • ricter

            100% concur on all points. Thanks for making sense of all of this.