No More Excuses: Why Aaron Boone was just told to be ‘ruthless’ to save his job

With the postseason just days away and Aaron Judge sidelined again, pressure is mounting on the New York Yankees ’ general manager Aaron Boone – who now needs to manage as though his job depends on October.

Boone’s contract runs through the 2027 season, but New York has not won a World Series since 2009, marking a barren run for the MLB's most successful organization, one that has won 27 rings in the past.

After another disappointing regular season that has seen the side slip behind the Tampa Bay Rays , his decisions are facing greater scrutiny as the wait for championship glory wages on.

And now the turning point could be here as the insider Joel Sherman reports that his job is an open question, and the 53-year-old must show a “ruthlessness” equal to the growing pressure.

“Whether he [Aaron Boone] is or he isn’t [getting fired],” Sherman told The New York Post. “He should manage like his job’s on the line and really go with his baseball gut.

“If he thinks that Anthony Volpe gives him the best chance to win, play him. If he thinks Jazz Chisholm gives him the best chance to win, play him.

“Play who you think gives you the best chance to win. This has to be utter ruthlessness.”

Judge absence serves as huge blow to Yankees

The Yankees have reached the postseason in eight of Boone ’s first nine years as manager, but that doesn’t win much credit in New York for a franchise of their reputation.

The team have claimed just one American League pennant and have only reached the World Series once under his tenure, both coming in the 2024 MLB season – only for the Los Angeles Dodgers to cooly brush them aside by winning the series 4-1.

In the 2025 MLB season there was promise again as New York and the Toronto Blue Jays were tied atop the AL East for much of the year before the Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox in the AL Wild Card Series .

However, Toronto then eliminated them in the AL Divisional Series on their way to the World Series in another bitter end to a campaign. Now in 2026, the Yankees face a similar story by reaching the postseason but trailing the Tampa Bay Rays by six games.

And now to make matters worse, Aaron Judge is back on the injured list despite only returning recently after missing 84 games with a stress fracture in his ribs, only to suffer a calf strain.

Boone said he does not expect his captain to be available for the Wild Card Series in which they could play the Red Sox once again. New York now needs production from elsewhere.

Fortunately, Chisholm Jr. returned from the injured list before Tuesday’s doubleheader after a sprained right thumb. He went 1-for-3 and drew a walk against Tampa Bay on September 22 .

“There is a team almost every year who just outplays them in the A.L. East,” Sherman added, to highlight the mood in New York. “And wins the division.

“They get in, but somebody outplays them almost always and that team last year eliminated them in the division series. You gotta win in the playoffs this year.”