Hal Steinbrenner explains why Yankees kept Aaron Boone

Current and former New York Yankees players helped convince team owner Hal Steinbrenner to bring manager Aaron Boone back for another season after the big-spending club missed the playoffs and finished the 2023 campaign at 82-80. 

"Obviously the first question that I asked [this offseason] obviously had to do with should Aaron Boone be our manager next year," Steinbrenner explained during a Tuesday Zoom news conference with reporters, per Danny Abriano of SNY. "I believe based on a lot of things that he's a good manager, but I didn't want to take my opinion this time around. I wanted to talk to a number of people, which I did."

Yankees captain Aaron Judge repeatedly backed Boone throughout what became a disappointing season, and Steinbrenner confirmed he consulted with Judge and also with former Yankees stars such as Andy Pettitte and Nick Swisher regarding Boone's status. Boone guided the club to the playoffs each year from 2018 through 2022, and he has a year left on a contract that includes a club option for 2025.

Steinbrenner indicated Boone won't receive an extension before next spring. 

"I think he's a good manager," Steinbrenner added about Boone, according to Ronald Blum of the Associated Press. "He’s extremely intelligent. He’s hardworking. The players respect him as a manager, they want to play for him and win for him. He’s able to take all the information we throw his way."

It was widely reported even before Steinbrenner met with staff members in Florida after the regular season concluded that he would retain both Boone and senior vice president/general manager Brian Cashman. Steinbrenner hinted he could make significant changes if the Yankees don't return to the postseason as soon as next fall. 

"I told them this season is completely unacceptable, that we got a winning record — that’s not an accomplishment, that’s a requirement, as far as I’m concerned," Steinbrenner said about the message he delivered to his staff in Tampa last month.