The frustration of New York Yankees fans has reached a boiling point after the team closed another season without the long-awaited title, marking more than 16 years without winning a World Series. Criticism and questioning are part of everyday life and the main target is Aaron Boone, who would have already run out of patience with the fans.
However, amid the clamor for change and a host of criticism, team owner Hal Steinbrenner publicly came out in defense of manager Aaron Boone, who is preparing for his ninth season in charge of the team.
Yankees owner defends Aaron Boone
In a Zoom conference, Steinbrenner categorically refused to blame the manager for the playoff exit, particularly for what happened in the American League Division Series against the Toronto Blue Jays.
“This series against Toronto was the players’ fault,” said the owner, adding that responsibility for the performance lies “with the players, period.”
In addition, Steinbrenner praised Boone’s team management skills: “He’s a good manager in many of the things he has to do… But he’s excellent dealing with the players, his staff… And he makes, overall, good decisions on the field.”
Despite Steinbrenner’s backing, Boone’s recent track record makes it difficult to defend. The manager has been the face of a constant and frustrating trend: the Yankees starting seasons strongly only to suffer noticeable mid-season collapses. This inertia has been repeated in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and the latest bad run in 2025, leading to premature eliminations.
The Yankees would have a clear path to go for Munetaka Murakami
One of the biggest rumors in this MLB transfer window was that Munetaka Murakami was close to joining the Los Angeles Dodgers, however, journalist David Vassegh denied it and hinted that it would now be the Yankees who could add the Japanese star.
The Yankees’ new needs to add talent and try to end their drought would make them look at Murakami, who with 246 home runs in NPB and a career OPS of .951, could be just what the New York team is missing to think big.
The Yankees know they are in debt and after backing Boone, they will look to make amends and go all out next season.
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