Aaron Boone is officially the Yankees manager.
The team made the announcement on Monday, with Boone signing a three-year deal that includes a team option for 2021. He will be introduced at a press conference at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday.
Boone replaces Joe Girardi, whose contract was not renewed following last season, despite the Yankees having exceeded expectations by reaching the ALCS and falling one win short of the World Series.
General manager Brian Cashman praised Boone’s open-mindedness in a statement.
“When we had the opportunity to speak with Aaron and share concepts and ideas, he was able to showcase a variety of traits that we believe will strongly benefit this franchise as we move forward, including an astute mind for the game and a progressive approach to evolving strategies,” Cashman said of Boone, who has never coached or managed at any level.
Despite Boone’s lack of experience, Cashman also pointed to Boone’s ability to connect with players, as well as an ability to “collaborate” with the front office, both of which were issues that helped lead to Girardi not being retained.
“We also believe Aaron’s interpersonal skills and baseball pedigree will allow him to blend well with the systems we have in place, our baseball operations staff and the 25-man roster,’’ Cashman said. “On a personal level, I look forward to collaborating with him over the coming years and offering him the support and resources needed to get the most out of our players.”
Managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner, who had expressed reluctance about hiring a manager with no coaching or managerial experience prior to the interview process, had to sign off on the move.“I firmly believe that Aaron possesses the attributes needed to follow in the tradition of great Yankees managers,” Steinbrenner said in a statement. “From all accounts, he is a polished communicator who possesses the ability to cultivate and grow relationships. Aaron has also spent a lifetime immersed in baseball, affording him a unique and intimate understanding of what fosters team success… Aaron’s name is already etched into Yankees history, and my family and I are excited to welcome him back to this franchise.”
Boone, 44, spent the last nine years at ESPN after retiring as a player. He beat out former bench coach Rob Thomson, who is now in the same position with the Phillies, ex-Indians and Mariners manager Eric Wedge, Giants bench coach Hensley Meulens, Dodgers’ third base coach Chris Woodward and the recently retired Carlos Beltran.
“Words cannot express how humbled I am to wear the pinstripes again as the manager of the Yankees,” said Boone, who hit the game-winning homer in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS to beat Boston before suffering a knee injury the following offseason to end his Yankee career and lead to the trade for Alex Rodriguez from Texas. “I want to thank the Steinbrenner family and Brian Cashman for entrusting me with this tremendous honor and responsibility. I believe we are entering into a special time in New York Yankees history, and I am so excited to be a part of it. I can’t wait to get to work — and that work starts now.”