Red Sox's Alex Cora Praises Yankees' Aaron Boone As 'One of the Best' in MLB

Even though the New York Yankees are facing a lot of questions going into the start of the 2025 season due to a series of injuries to key players, Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora thinks they are in good hands to navigate their issues.

Speaking to reporters prior to Tuesday's spring training game between the AL East rivals, Cora called Yankees skipper Aaron Boone "one of the best" managers in Major League Baseball:

"They're a really good team, managed by one of the best in the business. Yeah, Gerrit is out, but Gerrit was out last year and they made it to the World Series. ... That guy over there, man, I know [Aaron Boone] gets a lot of [crap] from people. But he's one of the best in the business.

Boone has been on the hot seat for a lot of his run as Yankees manager, which is often par for the course given the high-pressure nature of being in that role for that franchise.

When the Yankees were going through a rough 2023 season, speculation about Boone's job status was a frequent topic of conversation. There was no indication the organization came close to making a managerial change.

One high-ranking Yankees official told SNY's Andy Martino in August 2023 that Boone was "an asset, not part of the problem."

After reaching the World Series last season for the first time since 2009, Boone admitted he wasn't totally sure what his future held following the Yankees' loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"We'll see. I don't know," Boone told reporters after the decisive Game 5.

The Yankees did exercise Boone's option for the 2025 season on Nov. 8. The club announced on Feb. 20 that he signed a two-year extension that keeps him under contract through 2027.

This season is quickly shaping up to be arguably the most difficult task of Boone's managerial career. Gerrit Cole has already been ruled out for the season due to an elbow injury that requires Tommy John sugery.

The Yankees will also open the season with Luis Gil, Giancarlo Stanton and DJ LeMahieu on the injured list, with Gil not expected back until June due to a strained lat.

Clarke Schmidt's status for the start of the regular season is up in the air due to shoulder fatigue, but he's making progress in his return.

There's still a lot of talent on the roster, so it's not like New York is starting from scratch. Aaron Judge is healthy. Max Fried, who signed with the Yankees as a free agent, will slot into Cole's spot as the Opening Day starter. Austin Wells, Cody Bellinger and Jazz Chisholm Jr. are good hitters who can keep the offense rolling when Judge isn't at the plate.

But this group is very different from the one that played in the World Series just five months ago. Boone will be tasked with putting all of the pieces in place to get the Yankees back to the playoffs in 2025.

Boone is 603-429 in seven seasons as Yankees manager. Only the Dodgers, Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves have more wins than New York since 2018.