Yankees Hall of Fame Manager Defends Aaron Boone as Pressure Mounts

Joe Torre knows how hot the seat Aaron Boone is sitting in can get. 

Before Saturday’s Old-Timers’ Day at Yankee Stadium honoring the 2000 World Series champions, the Hall of Fame manager offered a public vote of confidence in Boone as the Yankees navigate a rocky stretch.

“I feel for Aaron Boone,” Torre said. “I’ve been in that place where you’re trying to, you know, rearrange the furniture and hopefully make a difference. But again, this club’s too good not to have a run, and there’s still time left. You know, if we were September 1, I’d be more concerned, but I have a lot of confidence.”

The Yankees entered the weekend fighting to keep their spot in the AL wild-card race after inconsistent play and injuries slowed their momentum. Boone, now in his eighth season at the helm, owns a 688–534 regular-season record (.563) and has led the Yankees to the playoffs in six of his first seven seasons, including last year’s run to the World Series — their first appearance since Torre’s final trip in 2003.

Torre managed the Yankees from 1996–2007, compiling a 1,173–767 record (.605) and winning six American League pennants and four World Series championships (1996, 1998–2000). He knows the demands of managing in New York can be relentless, even for proven winners.

“First off, he doesn’t panic,” Torre told SNY. “Boonie has been down this road before. I mean, he’s a third-generation Major Leaguer, and I just feel in my heart that they’re going to make a run and be where they’re supposed to be at the end.”

For Torre, the calendar matters.

 Mid-August leaves enough time for a surge, even in a season where the Yankees have been searching for consistency. His comments served as both a reminder of Boone’s resilience and a public show of solidarity from someone who once faced the same pressure in the Bronx.

Boone and Torre have a tight relationship. Boone included the former Yankees skipper on his staff for the 2025 All-Star Game and they talk often.

Whether Boone can turn Torre’s confidence into another October run will depend on the Yankees’ ability to string together wins down the stretch. Torre believes it’s coming and that Boone is the one to get them there.