3 replacements the Yankees could hire if they move on from Aaron Boone
By John Buhler
The New York Yankees may have no choice but to move on from Aaron Boone after this season.
In a season full of nothing but expectations, Aaron Boone’s 2021 New York Yankees lost in the Wild Card game. While technically a playoff berth, it’s not close to what fans and the Steinbrenners expect from the team on a yearly basis.
The 2003 ALCS Game 7 hero replaced World Series-winning manager Joe Girardi back in 2018. Missing out on the postseason wasn’t an option in New York, and doing so would’ve given Brian Cashman an easy reason to pull the plug. While Boone avoided disaster, his contract is up at the end of the season. This could allow both sides to move on, no harm done.
If the Yankees are looking for a long-term replacement for Boone ahead of next season, here are three quality options for New York to seriously consider.
New York Yankees: 3 offseason replacements for manager Aaron Boone
Scouting Report. Tampa Bay Rays. player. 21. Pick Analysis. Bench Coach. Matt Quatraro. 3
Matt Quatraro could improve the Yankees, while making a division rival worse
Even with their massive payroll advantage, why can’t the Yankees for the life of them compete with the Tampa Bay Rays in the division? Tampa Bay won the AL pennant a season ago and had the best record in the AL this year. They finished soundly ahead of the Yankees, Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays yet again.
While they may not be able to pay a fortune to rip manager Kevin Cash away, the Yankees brass should have enough coin to give their bench coach Matt Quartraro his first opportunity to lead a big-league ballclub. He has been in Tampa Bay since 2018 and had been the Cleveland Indians assistant hitting coach from 2014 to 2017. At 47-years-old, the time is now for Quatraro to lead.
The big question is if Quatraro would want to leave a pretty good situation in Tampa Bay. Though payroll issues will always limit this organization’s ceiling, the Rays have usually fielded a quality postseason-caliber team since rebranding in 2008. Simply put, Quatraro might be able to pick and choose where he manages next. While the Yankees are an appealing option, this team needs work.