The New York Yankees had another underwhelming postseason performance, but it wasn't enough for owner Hal Steinbrenner to make sweeping changes.
The Yankees decided to bring manager Aaron Boone back next season, which will be his tenth with the organization, going against the wishes of many fans. Boone's consistent success in the regular season has been overshadowed by his inability to lead New York to its first World Series championship since 2009.
Steinbrenner spoke to the media on Wednesday to explain his thought process, and the owner ended up putting more blame on the players than the manager or the front office. Steinbrenner said that he thought this year's roster was good enough to win a title, but it was the players who failed more in the end than Boone.
Here's why Steinbrenner kept Boone as the Yankees manager.
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Hal Steinbrenner defends Aaron Boone
At a press conference on Wednesday, Hal Steinbrenner defended his decision to retain manager Aaron Boone, arguing that Boone did a good job in 2026. Instead, Steinbrenner put the blame squarely on the players for not performing when the playoffs came around.
"I thought Boone managed a good season, especially with the pitching staff," Steinbrenner said. He got us to the playoffs, and the bottom line is the players didn't live up to their end of the bargain in the playoffs."
Boone led the Yankees to a very similar output in 2026, as the team won 93 games in 2026 after winning 94 games in both 2024 and 2025. However, the team also lost in the ALDS to a division rival for a second straight season, leading many fans to desire a change in manager.
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Steinbrenner told the media that he did a deep dive on both Boone and general manager Brian Cashman but ultimately came to the conclusion that it was right to keep the two in place, even giving Cashman an extension. Steinbrenner also discussed the team's underperforming offense, which was the biggest reason for the early playoff exit.
"I was disappointed with the offense," he said. "They were inconsistent for long periods of time."
Boone will enter 2027 as an impending free agent, as the manager's contract is set to expire at the end of the season. The Yankees seem comfortable allowing Boone to manage as a lame duck, which is something the team has done with its managers before.
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