New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone is still frustrated by how the Los Angeles Dodgers gloated after their World Series victory. As the Yankees reported yesterday at spring training, Boone addressed comments made by Dodgers players, as reported by The Athletic, calling them disrespectful but acknowledging that his team must prove themselves on the field.

Several Dodgers, including reliever Joe Kelly and infielder Miguel Rojas, dismissed the Yankees as inferior opponents after Los Angeles secured the championship. Kelly referred to the series as a “mismatch,” while Rojas criticized the Yankees’ defense. Utility player Chris Taylor was even more blunt, saying New York “collapsed” under pressure.

Boone took issue with both the remarks and who they came from. He pointed out that Dodgers stars such as Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani, and Clayton Kershaw refrained from making such statements. Instead, the criticism came from players with minimal contributions during the series.

Still, Boone admitted the Yankees did not play their best, and the Dodgers earned the right to celebrate however they wanted. His focus remains on using those comments as motivation.

The Yankees spent the offseason addressing their weaknesses, particularly on defense. The departure of Gleyber Torres, Juan Soto, and Anthony Rizzo allows for improvements in the field. Aaron Judge is moving back to the right field, and Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s taking over at the second base should provide much-needed stability.

While Soto’s loss stung, Boone is optimistic about the Yankees’ ability to return to the World Series. He hopes that his team will be the one celebrating next year. With a fresh start in spring training, the Yankees are focused on proving themselves throughout the season. The team aims to use the Dodgers’ remarks as motivation, with the ultimate goal of reversing roles and being the ones celebrating a championship next year.