Boone extension could be announced before Opening Day, says Cashman

BRADENTON, Fla. -- The Yankees are actively negotiating an extension with manager Aaron Boone, and a new agreement could be announced before Opening Day, general manager Brian Cashman said on Friday.

The club picked up Boone¡¯s 2025 option following the World Series, believed to be valued at $3 million, saying at the time that they would discuss a longer-term deal after the club¡¯s offseason business was completed.

Cashman said that managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner has been involved in the discussions with Boone, who has been the club¡¯s manager since 2018.

¡°You always want to have the guy for as long as you can have [him], as long as it¡¯s warranted and makes enough sense,¡± Cashman said. ¡°I think he controls the room and does a great job. We picked up his option last year, but that¡¯s not our intent. Our intent is to find an extension.

¡°I¡¯ve been working through that, and Hal Steinbrenner has been working through that, with Aaron Boone. Hopefully at some point, sooner than later we¡¯ll be able to officially cement something, but obviously I haven¡¯t gotten there yet. But just give us time.¡±

With a 603-429 lifetime managerial record, Boone ranks seventh in wins on the Yankees¡¯ all-time list, having surpassed Billy Martin (556) last season.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Boone was the first manager in Major League history to reach the postseason in each of his first five managerial seasons, doing so from 2018-22.

However, Boone¡¯s clubs have also been unable to deliver the organization¡¯s elusive 28th championship, with the Yanks¡¯ most recent title having been won under Joe Girardi in 2009. The 2024 campaign marked Boone¡¯s first pennant, and the Yankees were defeated by the Dodgers in a five-game World Series.

Cashman said he believes there would be a ¡°feeding frenzy¡± among other clubs interested in Boone¡¯s services, were he not to be retained.

¡°The one thing I¡¯m so impressed with is his temperament,¡± Cashman said. ¡°There¡¯s a lot of slings and arrows coming our way, despite even last year having a nice run. It wasn¡¯t ultimately what we wanted at the end, but at the end of the day, he¡¯s handled the ups and downs, the successes and failures, all the same way.

¡°I think that is a strength, that is a benefit. I know that if he wasn¡¯t the Yankee manager, it would be a feeding frenzy for him to be a manager that¡¯s coveted elsewhere, objectively. That¡¯s how we see it. We¡¯re hopeful that we can find common ground to have him continue leading our players from that dugout.¡±

Speaking earlier this week, Boone said he was not focused on his personal situation, preferring to center his attention on preparing his players for the upcoming season.

¡°That¡¯ll handle itself and work itself out,¡± Boone said. ¡°The reality is, I¡¯m so fired up to be here today, getting to work for this organization and for Hal. Hopefully something does work out. There¡¯s no other place I¡¯d rather be and no other team I¡¯d rather be doing it with.¡±