Aaron Boone is returning as manager of the New York Yankees in 2025 after the team decided to pick up his contract option. But … that’s it? As of right now, with no ongoing extension talks, Boone will head into next season as a lame duck candidate.

Perhaps the Yankees are waiting to see how free agency unfolds — specifically with Juan Soto’s future contract — but even then, this approach is confusing.

Though Boone didn’t technically “lose” his job because he guided the Yankees to an AL pennant, he also didn’t fully convince anybody of his managerial acumen after how the World Series unfolded. But apparently that didn’t matter because the Yankees reportedly stood by all of his decision making.

Either way, if the Yankees aren’t waiting for free agency to unfold and if they have no plans to discuss keeping Boone around beyond 2025 … then what are they doing?

Brian Cashman previously said the organization prefers managers to last 10 years, and Boone just wrapped up Year 7, so why not just extend him for two more? Or, even better, why not just part with him now and search for a replacement?

The Yankees had no problem doing that with Joe Girardi after he took the Yankees to the brink of a World Series appearance back in 2017!

Yankees’ future with manager Aaron Boone remains unclear after contract decision

On the surface, it really seems like there are only two options here: let Boone go or offer an extension and don’t cut bait until after the agreement concludes (or if the relationship becomes further tenuous). Leaving him in a contract year after picking up his option only leads to further uncertainty and doesn’t provide stability. Nor is it a vote of confidence.

Whether fans care for Boone or not, there’s something to be said about sensibility when it comes to avoiding unnecessary drama. Do we want the media asking Boone about his job security after every tough loss in 2025? We understand the other alternative is maintaining the status quo (listening to Boone somehow defend egregious failures), but the former is actually somehow more toxic and puts the Yankees in a precarious spot.

All that will come from Boone in a contract year that the organization locked him into would be further turmoil and uncertainty as well as possible discontent from the players. Isn’t Boone a players’ manager? Don’t the guys in the clubhouse love him? If that’s the reality, they certainly won’t like the front office potentially hanging him out to dry.

The early returns here have fans thinking the worst, but the hope is that there’s a less chaotic resolution. Boone departing at some point will likely get an applause from the fan base, but if he does in a lame duck manner, that might draw the ire towards Cashman and Co.