Yankees Rumors: Aaron Boone, Brian Cashman Expected to Return After ALCS Playoff Run

The New York Yankees aren't planning to make any major changes following their sweep to the Houston Astros in the American League Championship Series.

SNY's Andy Martino reported the Yankees are likely to retain general manager Brian Cashman, whose contract is expiring. And as long as Cashman stays, manager Aaron Boone "is expected to come back, too."

"The only way it seems that this could go sideways for either of them is if fan vitriol becomes so toxic that [team owner Hal] Steinbrenner decides he must initiate a GM change that no one believes he wants to make," Martino reported.

Any season that doesn't end in a World Series triumph is typically considered a disappointment among Yankees fans. Maintaining the status quo may not cut it when the franchise hasn't won a title since 2009. In Boone's case, the absence of a single appearance in the Fall Classic across five years is glaring.

In situations like this, there's always the danger of being a prisoner of the moment.

Cashman is a proven GM with four rings. Since he took over in 1998, the Bronx Bombers have missed the playoffs just four times. The 55-year-old has consistently done well to not only pursue the marquee stars fans are accustomed to seeing in pinstripes, but also developing homegrown talent through the farm system.

In Boone's case, he has guided New York to two 100-win seasons and came one victory of that threshold in 2022. Excluding the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, the Yankees have won at least 92 games every year under Boone. By comparison, they had four straight 80-win seasons under Joe Girardi before going 91-17 in 2017, his last year in charge.

At the same time, you can make a legitimate case to fire both Cashman and Boone.

The 2022 playoffs exposed how top-heavy the Yankees offense had become. The lineup was heavily dependent on Aaron Judge, and the team was toast with him posting a .490 OPS across the postseason.

Meanwhile, Boone's handling of the bullpen drew criticism for the second playoffs in a row. Using the rival Boston Red Sox as a source of inspiration with your back against the wall is the kind of thing that's bound to get mocked as well.

Maybe Steinbrenner's faith in Cashman and Boone will be repaid next October.

For now, ownership will likely be perceived as feeling satisfied with falling short of a championship as long as it doesn't jeopardize the bottom line.