Yankees mailbag: Aaron Boone’s 2021 option will be picked up

You ask, we answer. The Post is fielding questions from readers about New York’s biggest pro sports teams and getting our beat writers to answer them in a series of regularly published mailbags. In today’s installment: the Yankees.

Given that Aaron Boone’s contract is up at the end of the year, what are the chances they move on from him? — Drew Carr

The Yankees have a 2021 option on Boone, and my bet is they pick it up.

He connects with players, understands the responsibility of managing in New York and understands the role of analytics in today’s game. Two 100-win seasons in his first two years tops whatever happens this weird year.

With the Red Sox roster basically up for sale, do you think the Yankees will go shopping there? — Rivka Meiselman

The Yankees and Red Sox haven’t made many deals over the years — the last one was Stephen Drew from the Red Sox to the Yankees in 2014 — and it isn’t likely the Yankees are going to part with young players the Red Sox would need to rebuild.

Submit your Yankees questions to be answered in an upcoming mailbag

Do you think there’s any shot the Yankees are able to pry away Seth Lugo from the Mets? Could a package including [Miguel] Andujar, [Estevan] Florial and [Albert] Abreu be enough? — Tyler Honsel

With the mess the Mets’ rotation has become and Lugo’s value as a starter and reliever, it would be hard to imagine them moving the right-hander unless they get overwhelmed or have given up hope of making the postseason. Doubt the Yankees would part with Andujar and Florial for Lugo.

What would be better: to trade for a SP or add Clarke Schmidt to the roster and call him up? What will [Brian] Cashman do? — Julia

The trade market in this COVID-19 affected season is going to be tricky for a variety of reasons. However, that might be the better road to take if a veteran is available rather than trusting pennant-race starts to a pitcher who hasn’t pitched above Double-A yet.

Do you see the Yankees [pursuing] Trevor Bauer or trading for a pitcher this winter?  — Christian

That depends on what unfolds with free agents Masahiro Tanaka and James Paxton, and how they feel about the possibility of having neophytes Deivi Garcia and Schmidt joining Gerrit Cole and Jordan Montgomery in next year’s rotation, which could also include Jonathan Loaisiga and Mike King. And remember, they spent $324 million on Cole last offseason, and there is uncertainty what impact the pandemic will have on teams’ ability spend in free agency. Then there is DJ LeMahieu’s free agency to address.

If we are interested in pitching, why does Cashman wait until another team grabs them? He does that all the time. Make up your mind and do it! — Vic Eltora

Going to need examples of that. In recent years, the Yankees acquired Sonny Gray, Lance Lynn, Paxton, Zack Britton and J.A. Happ via trades and signed Cole. It’s possible the trades the Yankees haven’t made for pitching were because the teams didn’t have a match or the money wasn’t a fit.

Will the Yankees re-sign [Didi] Gregorius next season now that they see a lot of other scouts were right? — Matt

The Yankees are committed to Gleyber Torres at short and will make an effort to keep LeMahieu at second. Under that scenario there won’t be room for Gregorius. Should LeMahieu not return, then Gregorius would have to be a consideration, but remember they didn’t make a big push to bring him back after last season.

Share this article:

Source: Read Full Article