Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner didn’t mince words.
In a statement accompanying the news that the Yankees would re-sign manager Aaron Boone, Steinbrenner challenged his whole franchise.
“As a team and as an organization, we must grow, evolve and improve,” Steinbrenner said. “We need to get better. Period.”
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Yankees general manager Brian Cashman and Boone were expected to address reporters later Tuesday afternoon.
The Yankees are coming off another disappointing season. They lost to the Red Sox in the American League Wild Card Game at Fenway Park. The team hasn’t won a World Series in 12 years.
Boone brought the Yankees to the playoffs in all four years he’s been at the helm. For his troubles, he was given a new contract with the the exact terms of his previous deal: three years with a team option for a fourth season. It was immediately unclear how much the Yankees will pay Boone.
“We have a person and manager in Aaron Boone who possesses the baseball acumen and widespread respect in our clubhouse to continue to guide us forward,” Steinbrenner said.
He added, “I know Aaron fully embraces our expectations of success, and I look forward to drawing on his intelligence, instincts and leadership in pursuit of our next World Series championship.”
The Yankees took two weeks to finalize a deal with the 48-year-old Boone. But he won’t return to a familiar coaching staff. The Yankees fired his hitting coaches Marcus Thames and P.J. Pillitere and his third base coach Phil Nevin. Nevin and Boone are close friends.
Boone is 328-218 for his career, putting him ninth of the franchise’s all-time wins list.
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Brendan Kuty may be reached at bkuty@njadvancemedia.com.
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