Are the New York Yankees for real? What you should—and shouldn’t—believe

If the Yankees miss the playoffs, or exit early, what would it mean for manager Aaron Boone? And how might it affect the team’s offseason plan?

Lee: I think part of this would be dependent on exactly how the Yankees exit. Boone certainly needs to take some of the blame for how this team performed early, but he also deserves credit for helping turn things around. Beyond Boone, I’m curious to see how the Yankees approach Gleyber Torres’ future, given his struggles this season—especially with a marquee shortstop like Trevor Story available as a free agent.

Schoenfield: Boone is in the final year of his contract and there has been little public discussion of an extension, so it does feel like the Yankees have to at least make the postseason for him to keep his job, especially in a season in which they were the AL favorites for the World Series—where the Yankees haven’t been since 2009. I don’t think a wild card is enough, however, after disappointing losses in the ALDS to the Red Sox in 2018, to the Astros in the 2019 ALCS, and to the Rays in the 2020 ALDS. Boone might have to win the AL to be back in pinstripes in 2022.

As for the offseason, we’ll have to see how the new CBA plays out and how willing the Yankees will be to blow past the luxury tax (if there is one) after staying under it this year. I’m with Joon: They’ll have a new shortstop next season, with the issue whether Torres slides over to second base or is traded for some prospects/pitching help. They need to become a little more athletic (Gallo helps in that regard) and a good two-way player like Story is a good fit, with his power, defense and baserunning. Aaron Hicks is still under contract, but a new center fielder might be in order as well.