Mariano Rivera says comments on Aaron Boone were taken out of context

Earlier this week, New York Yankees legendary closer (and 2019 Baseball Hall of Fame inductee) Mariano Rivera discussed whether the franchise should bring back manager Aaron Boone for the 2023 season. While the Yankees have made the playoffs in all five of Boone's years at the helm, the "Bronx Bombers" haven't returned to the World Series since 2009, and the Houston Astros have continued to be their "antichrist."

During a videoconference session with Panamanian business executives on Tuesday, Rivera said in Spanish that "the manager is the one that always gets fired," per a recording of his comments on espndeportes.com. He spoke with the Associated Press on Thursday to clarify his words.

"I said when a team like this, the New York Yankees, is expected to win, the season that they had, and they don't make it to the end, always the manager is the one that always ends up paying," Rivera said. "Although the manager doesn't hit, the manager doesn't pitch, the manager doesn't run, the manager doesn't do nothing but manage and make sure everybody's ready to play, unfortunately they never fire the whole team, they always fire the manager. I was giving a generic estimation. And obviously they took it out of context." 

While Boone has yet to officially sign a new deal with the Yankees, owner Hal Steinbrenner said on Wednesday that he plans to have the 49-year-old back in pinstripes. It was reported earlier this week that general manager Brian Cashman will likely be back in 2023 as well.

Cashman has been New York's GM since 1998 and has helped guide the organization to four World Series titles. The team won three consecutive championships from 1998 to 2000 and a fourth one in 2009.