Aaron Boone, New York Yankees. (Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports)
The New York Yankees need to consider making these three moves to save their lost season.
Though the New York Yankees are still above .500, the typical AL East powerhouse has massively underperformed this season.
New York enters play on Monday night vs. the Los Angeles Angels at 40-37 on the year. While that would not be a horrible mark in many divisions across baseball, that is good enough for fourth place in the top-heavy AL East. New York is 6.5 games back of the division-leading Boston Red Sox. It does not look like this team will be playing in October. They have to make some moves fast.
Here are three moves the Yankees could potentially make in the month leading up to the deadline.
New York Yankees: 3 moves to make to save their 2021 MLB season
3. Decide if you can win games with Aaron Boone the rest of the way or not
While it remains to be seen if this one massive move will make any difference whatsoever, the Yankees need to figure out if they can win games with manager Aaron Boone the rest of the way or not. Though the Yankees have been a postseason team in each of his three previous years in charge, he will not get a fifth year if New York continues to play bad baseball into September.
New York could theoretically roll with bench coach Carlos Mendoza in the interim and see how that goes. We have seen interim managers and coaches ignite winning ways within their ball clubs. Jack McKeon won a World Series leading the then-Florida Marlins in 2003. Tyronn Lue did it with the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers. Bruce Arians guided an Indianapolis Colts team into the 2012 AFC Playoffs.
Overall, Boone is going to get the brunt of the blame for if the Yankees do not qualify for the postseason. If the front office thinks he can get this thing turned around, then keep rolling with him. If the front office has its doubts about Boone being the club’s manager next year, identify an internal candidate in the interim to guide this team. This is one potential move to mix things up.
It may not all be Boone’s fault, but his departure could re-invigorate an underperforming ballclub.