Yankees' Aaron Judge backs Aaron Boone despite postseason struggles

Captain Aaron Judge has made it clear he's among New York Yankees players who believe in manager Aaron Boone ahead of the upcoming season. 

"I wasn’t too concerned, because I know how this team believes in Booney," Judge told Steve Serby of the New York Post about Boone's job security following the 2022 season. "And the impact he has on a lot of players, and I think the organization spoke to some players on how they felt about him, and I think it was a good response. I’ve always been vocal about how I feel about Booney and what he’s done for us." 

Boone went 427-281 across his first five regular seasons with the Yankees but is responsible for a disappointing 14-17 playoff record. After the Bronx Bombers were swept by the Houston Astros in the American League Championship Series, some suggested that Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner could replace Boone. Instead, Steinbrenner remained committed to the skipper through at least the 2023 season. 

Boone signed a three-year contract that includes a club option for 2025 back in October 2021. Judge, meanwhile, returned to the Yankees in December via a nine-year, $360 million deal and is now serving as the 16th captain in the history of the franchise. 

"If you just look at his record this past five, six years as manager of the Yankees … not too many managers in this game have multiple 100-win seasons and done what he’s done the last couple of years," Judge continued about Boone. "You just look at how he talks about this team, how his players react to him. I think he might have been close to leading the league in ejections last year (nine), and the last couple of years. He fights for us on a daily basis and he’s in our corner through and through, and that’s no better guy you want steering the ship than that." 

Starting pitcher Nestor Cortes Jr. added that he "loves" having Boone as his manager. One unnamed Yankee told Serby that those inside the clubhouse enjoy that Boone "believes in us tremendously" and "kinda gives that confidence to keep going." 

Boone's popularity among players may matter little if the Yankees don't at least make their first World Series appearance since they won the 2009 Fall Classic, especially if the big-spending New York Mets are the last team standing later this year.