ORLANDO, Fla. – In Aaron Boone’s opinion, the 2025 Yankees had probably the most gifted roster he has guided throughout his eight-year tenure as a giant league supervisor. That’s significantly notable, contemplating they had been the follow-up to a membership that gained the American League pennant.
It is also what made the ending sting a lot after the Yankees’ elimination within the AL Division Sequence, coming by the hands of the Blue Jays, a group they by no means solved. But Boone insists the hole between New York and Toronto is extra slim than many consider.
“We ended with similar information final yr. I don’t wish to low cost that they kicked our [tails] final yr; like, don’t take it out of context,” Boone stated Monday on the Winter Conferences. “They clearly had been an excellent group final yr, and an eyelash away from profitable a world championship. They actually proved to be the higher group this yr, and hopefully, we will shut that hole.”
As he rose from his seat inside a ballroom on the Signia by Hilton Orlando, Boone acknowledged how which may sound, quietly joking a couple of potential headline: “Boone thinks they’re higher!”
But as basic supervisor Brian Cashman outlined late Sunday, the Yankees internally consider there’s not as a lot heavy reconstruction to do that offseason as final, once they needed to scramble after Juan Soto’s departure in free company.
Cashman stated that his beginning place is that “now we have actually good gamers on this roster and we’re lined in most areas,” with the objective of augmenting slightly than overhauling.
Boone stated he doesn’t anticipate getting concerned with negotiations for Bellinger, noting that he hardly ever recruits gamers who’ve beforehand performed with the group. As Boone stated, “They know who we’re. They know what we’re about.” Boone stated he hasn’t but recruited any outdoors free brokers.
Each New York and Toronto gained 94 video games final season, with their tie atop the AL East determined by their head-to-head file.
That’s the place the Blue Jays dominated, profitable eight of their 13 matchups within the common season, together with a four-game sweep at Rogers Centre in July. The pattern continued into an ALDS during which Boone stated Toronto was “on fireplace in opposition to us,” scoring 34 runs to 19 for New York throughout the 34-inning sequence.
“The top of our season was frankly exhausting for me, as a result of I felt like we had been actually good and wholesome and peaking on the proper time,” Boone stated. “We obtained beat in a sequence in opposition to a group that we clearly struggled with final yr within the Blue Jays. So it was exhausting, and also you wish to take inventory in that.
“Once more, you’re at all times attempting to enhance your group. However [you need to] additionally pause and say, ‘Hey, we’re fairly good right here.’ We’ve obtained a whole lot of actually good gamers and a whole lot of actually good younger core gamers that emerged on totally different ranges final yr that we have to proceed to develop of their huge league journey.”
Boone particularly talked about Jasson Domínguez, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren, Ben Rice and Austin Wells amongst those that can elevate their video games to new ranges.
That contrasts sharply with the Blue Jays, who’re in add-on mode after their thrilling postseason. They are going to formally introduce pitcher Dylan Stop on the Winter Conferences on Tuesday, they usually have hosted outfielder Kyle Tucker – arguably the highest accessible free agent – for a go to to their Dunedin, Fla., facility.
There’s a clear temptation amongst Yankees executives to largely run it again, believing the return of a wholesome Gerrit Cole in Could or June will likely be a difference-maker. Cashman stated he’s additionally investigating what he calls “problem trades,” believing the lineup is simply too left-handed dominant.
“You’re at all times trying to get higher, and that appears totally different yearly,” Boone stated. “We will at all times use extra fortification and higher gamers in sure areas, however I don’t know the place the winter will take us.”
