Why Is Boone One Of The Higher Paid Managers In Baseball?

Aaron Boone’s contract extension with the New York Yankees is yet another example of failing up in modern sports. Despite never delivering a championship as the Yankees’ manager, Boone has become one of the highest-paid managers in Major League Baseball. Wait what? 

It’s a glaring reminder that in today’s world, success isn’t always about merit—it’s about connections and legacy.

Boone’s new deal, reported by Jon Heyman of the New York Post, is essentially a three-year contract through 2027. His salary jumps to $4.5 million this year, with $5 million and $5.5 million in the following seasons, totaling $15 million over three years. To put this in perspective, Craig Counsell and Torey Lovullo entered last season with the highest managerial salaries at $8 million and $5 million, respectively. The Yankees are paying Boone like an elite manager, but his resume doesn’t support it. As Newsweek pointed out, “it’s worth noting that Craig Counsell (Chicago Cubs) and Torey Lovullo (Arizona Diamondbacks) reportedly entered last season with the two highest manager salaries at $8 million and $5 million, respectively.”

Since taking over in 2018, Boone has posted a 603-429 regular-season record—a decent stat that some might use to argue his competence. But in the Bronx, regular-season wins are nothing more than a prelude. As Yankees legend Derek Jeter once said, “It doesn’t matter what you do during a 162-game schedule. It all boils down to the World Series. Win a championship or it’s a failure.” Under Boone’s leadership, the Yankees’ postseason record is a disappointing 22-23, with zero championships to show for it.

How does someone with Boone’s track record become one of the top earners among MLB managers? The answer seems to be more about who you know than what you’ve achieved. Boone’s name carries weight—his father, Bob Boone, was a respected player and manager. It’s a guess by me, but it’s a good one. It feels like the Yankees are more invested in maintaining a comfortable, familiar status quo than making the tough choices needed to win. Boone’s tenure represents a failure to uphold the Yankee standard of championship-or-bust.

Meanwhile, the Yankees claim they “have no money” to spend on infield help, according to Jon Heyman. “Yeah, I don’t see it,” Heyman said. “The Yankees, I don’t think they’re adding anybody. I’m told they have no money.” The priorities are baffling: they can’t find room in the budget to strengthen the roster, but they can find millions to keep Boone in the dugout. He isn’t a strategist or a motivator—he’s a babysitter for a team that often looks rudderless in October.

The real frustration should be aimed at the top. Hal Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman have shown they’re more than willing to spend—just not in the right places. Boone’s bloated contract is a slap in the face to fans who expect excellence, not mediocrity. If they really wanted to win, they’d put the money toward impact players or, better yet, an actual qualified manager who knows how to get the most out of a roster.

The truth is, as long as Yankee Stadium is filled with fans and the merchandise flies off the shelves, the organization won’t change. The Steinbrenner family doesn’t view a season without a championship as a failure anymore—they view it as business as usual. Until the front office recognizes that mediocrity is unacceptable, the Yankees will remain in this frustrating cycle of good-but-not-great seasons.

For fans, the message is clear: Stop rewarding mediocrity. As long as tickets are sold and ratings stay high, nothing will change. The only way to reclaim the Yankee legacy of excellence is to demand it. That starts with holding Aaron Boone—and the entire front office—accountable for their failure to bring a championship back to the Bronx. That’s my opinion of course.