Aaron Boone Talks Juan Soto, Yankees Lineup, & Pitching Concerns

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In us right now the manager of the New York Yankees and just hearing his voice is going to make me think of spring and God knows we need that and that of course is Aaron Boone Aaron Tiki Evan how you been hey guys I’m I’m doing well yeah we

Do need some spring we finally got a little cold around here so it’s about time to to head south and now you join us because as a football fan we had no Giants we had no Jets and now you have no Eagles so did you did you want serani

Out like a lot of other Eagle fans what was your thoughts s uh no um you know it was just such a weird year I actually went down to a couple games the last one being Buffalo which was like kind of the end of the run and it’s just such a weird

Like for being a Super Bowl team and obviously backed up by a Super Bowl last year and having what you think is this amazing roster like to see the team kind of fall off a cliff um and being healthy like they were widely healthy and just

All of a sudden just stopped getting to the quarterback and you know I think I think teams started getting the ball out on them so they couldn’t get to the quarterback their linebacker play was not nearly as good as last year and it just I I’ve never seen a team just go

From the best team and what I thought was like the best roster to like like one of the worst teams in the league like the final two months so it was a little little sucked py at we to bet whether or not you would throw the head coach of your

Favorite team under the bus I said as a coaching brother there’s no way he’s going to do that there’s no way he can say yes fire serani because you know what that’s like it sucks to get that from people that you think are your friends or at least

Your colleagues or peers yeah I mean look I think Nick’s had a great start to things so it’s like you know did the coordinator thing finally show up like that deep into the season that what what exactly happened and I am confident the organization that they’ll kind of get to

The bottom of it and figure it out I think Howie’s great and and the owner is awesome so I think they’ll figure it out they probably will unfortunately because all of us in New York collectively can’t stand the Eagles but they probably will uh I’m curious at the beginning of this

Off season because I was kind of surprised by it Tiki was surprised by it Brian Cashman came out and he was like you know what I ain’t taking crap anymore right I’m going to start dropping cuss words I’m going to tell you you guys don’t know what the hell

You’re talking about when you heard that were you like yeah Cash go go give it to him what was your reaction hearing the aggressive Brian Cashman um yeah you know I I think for him it was you know coming to the defense of a lot of people that you know

He he thinks are really good at what they do and and you know kind of you know more often than not you you just you kind of wear things and you you know you power through but I think it was probably a little bit therapeutic for

Him to come out and and you know try and defend things a little bit because obviously you know we’re getting a lot of fire from a lot of different places understandably like we didn’t come close to meeting our expectation or our standards last year and and we

Understand that that comes with it but you know there are times that you want to defend yourself as well so I think it was a little bit of that but I enjoyed the rant so so Aaron it’s interesting because uh Evan made me break it down like what’s he actually saying and you

Know what I said I said exactly what you just said he’s doing that to make himself feel better right he’s saying that because he wants to feel good about where he’s going so it has nothing to do with what what he says really he just

Wants to come back at all of us but one of the things that I think that came out of this offseason at least going into this off season was this notion that Aaron judge was going to be I want to say more involved I don’t want him to be

Like Aaron Rogers and you know bringing his boys over to the team and things like that but it felt like Aaron’s opin opion wanted needed to be heard how how much has that been the case this off seon yeah I mean look I think especially once Aaron you know he’s he certainly

Earned a level of respect obviously across the game but certainly within our organization so um I think once he signed longterm and became the captain I think along with that you know becomes you know allowed for even more of a you know we we do value what he thinks and

What he says as we do with all our players but certainly him and and Garrett are guys that you know we we we want to hear what they have to say and when they have input you know especially as we’re you know trying to put things

Together and you want to get as much good information as you can from your different sources when anytime you’re making a decision so I think they they’ve earned a level of respect and and uh certainly a valued opinion within our organiz with him where do things stand defensively going into this season with

Stto with Verdugo is he most of the time center fielder I know you said the other day he may play some left how do you see the breakdown being for Aaron judge in terms of where he plays in the Outfield I see him playing a lot of center field

To start and that you know assuming assuming we have good health and obviously we brought Trent Grisham in who’s an elite defensive center fielder as well who is going to get playing time but um I do think Aaron and he’s he’s excited and preparing to play a lot of

Center field and then as the season unfolds and this Pops in you know all of a sudden those plans can change a little bit but with that center field you know I’ll I’ll use the DH with him too you know whether it’s you know in a perfect

World where you’re healthy once or twice a week that gets Grisham in the lineup a little bit that gets you know John Carlo a day off here if if he’s going well and um so right now he is preparing to get ready to play center field and um you

Know I can slide him over to right obviously at any time and um and you could see even some left field in there um but I think initially the bulk I see him playing in center field and what about Verdugo and soda because both guys have played both Corners left field and

Right field where are they going to be aligned yeah yeah my lean right now would be to have Verdugo and left field and stto and right just with with our large left field verdugo’s kind of you know demonstrated himself as kind of an Elite Corner defensive outfielder so um

So my lean right now would be left field but we’re also in January so I kind of want to get down there yeah get a feel for everyone where guys are most comfortable um you know and then you know once you get into the season what exactly are we dealing with roster wise

Where are we what makes the most sense to you know get the most consistency yeah you know boony we talk about center field how taxing it can be because of the gaps you got to cover and it’s just a lot for any athlete but in particular

A big athlete and I wonder you know you mention you’ll use the DH so there I’m sure there’ll be a handful maybe a lot more than a handful of games where he’s he’s not playing the field and is that a reaction to the injuries and some of

Them are freak you know we try to explain them away all the time oh you know the wall and in La if that didn’t happen you wouldn’t have Miss all this time the diving a few years ago where you cracked a rib or did whatever did to

His intercostal right is this a way to keep him healthy yeah you know I’m I’m not as worried and I never have been frankly on the center field stuff with Aaron because and I think the you know two years ago when he played the bulk of of

The 22 season which was obviously an incredible year was also one of his most most healthy Seasons it does make me be conscious of like I I do like to get him more dh’s as a result of he is moving around around more technically but also

Kind of make the analogy and Tiki you’ll appreciate this like we’re I’m not putting him at running back you know it’s like you know it’s it’s it’s center field and um you know he’s had just as many more uh more injuries out in right field whether it’s running into walls

And things like that so I don’t worry about that too much I’ll be mindful of and you can measure those things now where how much a guy’s running around and how how that Stacks up in a week where you’re playing in a 10 game in a

Row 11 game in a row so I’ll certainly be mindful of those things but that’s where you know having the DH and being able to cycle him in there um hopefully is something that serves him and us well am I assuming right that if judges playing Left that means stto will

Exclusively be a right fielder and that’s a part of why judge would move to left that you wouldn’t want to bounce stto back to left field yeah you know I’m just not sure you know again it it you make all these plans and then all of

A sudden one guy’s missing here at the start and another guy’s missing at some point in the season so I’m just going to kind of feel it out um we’ll see you know I you know I don’t want to move a ton of guys around all the time but you

Know on the days grisham’s in that in center field does it make the most sense let’s say Verdugo has a day to makees most sense to move stto over there or or move judge in the left those are kind of things we’ll get a feel for I’ve had

Those conversations with Aaron to kind of prepare him for and he’s ready for anything but um you know that’ll be something that kind of declares itself as as spring training unfolds we’re talking Aaron Boon manager of the Yankees so when you guys get Alex Verdugo good addition obviously he’s

Been a solid player I remember back to Something in Boston with like Alex cor benching him and I think a lot of Yankee fans think the same thing and I’m sure you know you’re managing the Yankees you ain’t worried about what the Red Sox are

Doing do you make a phone call and find that eye what the hell happened with Verdugo is this something I need to keep an eye on yeah yeah I mean honestly Al Alex has been on our our radar for a couple years we’ve we’ve you know considered trading for him or even had

Conversations I think going back the last couple years on different levels um so we’ve done our homework on that stuff and have certainly tried to talk to a lot of people about different situations um so at the end of the day I think we we feel like we’re getting uh a

Very good Major League hitter also a two-way player that can really play the Outfield and I feel like is just still scratching the surface of what he can be as a player I think he’s a really talented hitter and and I think you know being from the left side being in our

Our ballpark might even hopefully see the power kick up a little bit not that I want him to go stretch for that because I think he’s such a good back to ball guy that but I feel like I feel like there’s more in there for Alex Verdugo and you know hopefully getting

Over here and a change of scenery for him will be something that um hopefully gets that out of him but I’m excited I’m I’m really excited to have them especially when I look right now at the potential of our what I think our lineup’s going to be and the different

Places I could see him hitting in the lineup behind certain people with a lot of traffic and a guy that is really really a tough out we’ve seen it now for the last few years playing against them are you going to play them against lefties every day

I mean I I I look at him him as an everyday player now um you know again the makeup of your roster you’ll pick certain spots where you know you know I want to get Grisham in there I can get you know when I have you

Know judge on a on a day off or or or in the DH spot how does it all match up so I do plan on him I do see him playing a ton versus lefties as well yeah you know Skip let’s let’s talk about the sto

I don’t want to call a situation but I will but it feels like this could be just one year and it makes you kind of have to be all in for 202 I’m sure Evan hopes it’s one year Well Evan keeps talking about I don’t know what you mean

By that he’s wrting in the Bronx and he’s gonna buy in Queens nonsense so but I mean that’s the reality he could leave as a free agent he wants to hit he wants to hit free agency the number’s going to be stupid when whenever it comes out uh

What what what they’re looking for but what kind of urgency does that put on you you as the manager yeah look we knew when we traded for Juan like we you know I think we certainly understood that this could be um that he’s a free agent at the end of

The year and obviously he’s going to be in in high demand and an amazing player um so we we went into this kind of eyes wide open and knew that you know the the package we had to give hurt a little bit to give up some of the talent that we gave

But we really felt like he’s such a Difference Maker and such a such a good fit for our team um and we just felt like we we had to do it and hopefully hopefully everything goes according to plan and he he loves playing in Pinstripes and loves being here and and

It works out but we didn’t go into this necessarily just like you know we went into it with you know we feel like he’s a great fit for us this year and gives us an amazing chance to to be the team we expect to be do you feel you need to

Kind of kiss his ass throughout the season like almost say all right well whatever you want man got to keep you happy Sean has a no boo Pro uh uh what is it what no policy policy for Soo no matter what happens all season long well

You know what at the end of the day it’s money’s going to talk probably you know right um hopefully you know we we we make it an environment that uh he’ll like and that he’ll thrive in and that he’ll make make all of us better that’s that’s the focus and we’ll see we’re

Talking to Aaron Boon there’s a lot of Yankee fans that are done with Jean Carlo they’re done with the guy they want him gone they think he stinks he’s never healthy and what I’ve tried to say and I don’t even know if you’re going to

Buy into this but I ask you I brought it to Tiki’s attention I said you know Jean Carlo actually wasn’t that bad last year against left-handed pitching and if you trade him maybe differently than what he was four years ago maybe you can maximize it maybe if he’s the

Right-handed platoon against lefties and we stop thinking of him thinking of him as the guy from 2017 the year before he got here he can be productive have you given that thought about Stanton of just treating him like a platoon player and mostly facing left-handed pitching not

Yet I I’ve he and and and us have gone into the offseason looking at it as there’s certain you know things he knows he’s got to do um you know I think just body composition wise being an older player that not older you know in his 30s now

But you know that’s had some of the lower body you know soft tissue things that have come up you know I I think understanding that you know playing at a at a lighter weight is something that’s going to really serve him well I I I

Really I I would I I think it’s foolish to count to to count him out um just knowing the competitor knowing the drive knowing what I know he’s doing this winter to be ready for this year to make sure last year doesn’t happen um I would

Not put it past him at all that he goes out and has an awesome year and that’s against righties and lefties yeah um but you always as the season unfolds you see where you’re at and you make adjustments as you go but um I still think he’s got

A big year in him yeah so two things one it seems it sounds like he’s going to lose some of those lbs so he’s going to be less muscular have you seen him yet like what’s he look like I I have not I talked to him again the other day um I

Know he is lighter I’ve seen pictures of him and the thing is like he’s always in great shape like I mean he’s like low percent body fat but you know as you get on the north side of 30 and you’ve had some injuries it’s hard to carry that

Weight on your frame and I think he understands the importance of of being lighter and it’s going to serve him well and I know he’s had an off season that’s put him in a really good spot to give him the best chance to be successful uh

And we’ll we’ll see him here in a short short order uh in a few weeks and Bon I’m just reading reading through the lines here it sounds like you want flexibility with the DH so what does that do for the Stanton plan like where

Where do you see him if he’s not so yeah in a perfect world you know he’s he’s playing he’s he’s he’s he is that option in the field once or twice a week you know John Carl is that one guy that you know I’m certainly gonna make sure I I I

Give get him his off days you know that day a week or whatever but hopefully in and around that you know he’s able to give us a day in the field once a week and that just allows everyone and I feel like we have the potential to have such

A deeper um offense and such a deeper position player group this year that having that little bit of flexibility will serve us well and I think I do think he’s in position to do that but again we’ll we’ll see as it unfolds here you know starting in February and the ex

Factor to all of this is Jason Dominguez because when he comes back here’s what I read your answer your answer is of course Stan’s gonna play against everybody you numb skull but hey come June July Dominguez is back Jean Carlo can’t hit right-handed pitching I’m open

To it but when is Dominguez coming back can you get the Yankee fans excited when are we looking May 1 your your timeline’s probably on like we’re going to make sure he’s obviously all the way back and and ready to play the field you

Know when he is but all I know is he’s he’s doing really well the the the rehab’s gone you know as expected and um he’s been down in Tampa actually you know these last couple of months so I actually got to see him when I was down

There last week he’s doing great and we’ll see you know hopefully we’re in a position that um you know a lot a lot will happen between now and whenever that is in June or whatever that he’s back that you know it the the roster will kind of declare itself and and

Hopefully you know show you what what to do so June that’s the timeline that’s a a right way to think of you’re a Yankee fan we’re going to get to see the Martian in June I think we’re I think we’re putting it at he’s on track to be

Ready in the summer and that’s how we’re looking at it we’ll see tell me the plan of some of the other young guys I mean vul we we kind of know but Cabrera perza like where where what’s the plan for those young guys how do they get playing

Time I obviously the lot’s going to be the determined by what happens in the spring but what’s your plan or thought around those guys yeah so right now like in the infield obviously you know Rizzo and glaber at first and second and V at short and and DJ over at third so those

Guys right now are utility guys and kind of fighting for opportunities and playing time and certainly in the mix and and guys that have experience now so that if you know something is to happen you know they could easily slide in and hopefully you know they continue to to

Take steps you know in their development as players because we certainly think highly of them will you consider leading off with Anthony vulpi or does he still have to kind of prove more before you give him that designation yeah yeah I don’t look I I could certainly see it at

Some point during the season I don’t necessarily see it at the start I I definitely want him to kind of get rolling and hopefully you know he’s another guy i’ feel great about the winner he’s had and the adjustments and the makeup of of the person that he’s

Going to make necessary adjustments to allow him to become you know an even more advanced player this year for us so hopefully he’s putting himself in a position at some point to be in that mix um but I I don’t necessarily see that at the start of the season so um that lead

Off leadoff spot is going to be you know such a crucial spot obviously for us but you know in front of you know stto and judge however I I line it up there like I want that spot to just it’s got to be a spot that’s consistently getting on

Base and I could see it being DJ you know I could see it being Verdugo in some cases I could see it being vulpi at some point I can see glaber popping up there so I just want that spot to be you know a place where we’re consistently

Getting at you know 350 plus on base and if we can do that um I think we’re going to be really really really scary if we can get some consistency out of that lead off spot I’ll tell you what that what’s scaring me having to face Juan

Stto and Aaron judge back toback are you committed to sto 2 judge three or could you go back and forth with that during spring training yeah no I’m not committed I’m I’m I expect them to be two three and one whether I don’t know which one in front of the other yet

Maybe a lot of that depends on how the leadoff spot shakes out like is it just DJ you know is our our lead off guy and he’s rolling and he’s doing his thing I love the way he finished the year the last two months of the Season where he

Was getting on base a ton so it could be him or is it more of a you know rotate that leadoff spot play the hot hand in that leadoff spot um and then because you know this is that the first year in a while too we’re going to have like

Really really potentially good balance on our lineup with left or right so I’ll you know I want to you know kind of balance out the lineup so a lot depends on who’s getting in that leadoff spot uh as to how I hit two and three does it

Matter and maybe this is middle of January talking and guys like me getting stuck on baseball reference but does it matter that Juan stto because I would agree like I’d hit Juan stto second now I’m certainly never managing a baseball team but my first reaction would be and

I’ve set it on the air I’d hit stto second damn man he’s got such a great eye you got judge protecting him it seems perfect and then I got stuck in a Vortex on baseball reference where basically Juan sto is not that good batting second do you look in at that

Does that matter that you see number like that is that a factor at all no well I know in the past he has he has always had a preference for hitting third um I know he’s open to doing either here second or third so especially when you’re talking about

That level of player that level of hitter um I do want him to be comfortable in the lineup so that does factor in but I don’t for example if if he hit second and he hit second 140 times um I I think uh that baseball reference change will reference page

Will change a lot because I think he’s whether he hits second or third if he does it a lot he’s gonna bang yeah let me hit the rotation here skip because obviously Garrett Cole at the top is you’re not worried about him but everything else is kind of cautious

Optimism mainly because of the injuries with rhon specifically Nester who flashed and then you know wasn’t available for a lot and then Marcus strowman uh coming in he was banged up at then the last year I don’t think it’s a big deal but the the injuries are a

Concern like H how is that going to be mitigated well I would say one of the things I’m really excited about is Carlos rhon right now um the winner that he’s had and I think you know a lot of the things that he went through last year you know injury-wise you know

Scuffling performance- Wise just getting adjusted being behind the eightball and trying to play catchup all year um you know finishing on a you know on a down note I think has been really really motivating for him and he’s had he’s had a great winner he’s been down in Tampa

Now the last few weeks and I know our you know our pitching guys down there are really excited with how he looks and kind of like night and day from how he looked this time last year yeah which is really encouraging and the one thing you

Know I’ve told him and and you know when when we went into the off season I continue to have conversation like his didn’t go away and he’s not an old guy so I’m really excited about the potential there the biggest thing I want him to focus on is is making sure he’s

Doing everything necessary to put himself in a position to be able to go out and post every fifth or sixth day and not get caught up in oh I gotta have my first start’s got to be great I gotta go out and show this and Spring train no

I got to put my body in a position to be able to go to the Post 25 30 32 times and if that happens I’m really confident that we’ll see a really good pitcher do you think Cashman gives you another arm or two out of the bullpen in the rotation what’s your

Expectation yeah I I know I know we’re still talking to guys about about the bullpen and uh whether that’s an arm or two and and obviously monitoring what continues to be out there you know from a from a starting from a position player for that matter but I do do expect us to

Add something still but um we’ll just see we’ll we’ll we’ll see how it goes and um I’m excited about our team and you know if hopefully there’s another piece or two to add and you know and we go find out how good we think we can be

I got a vibe from you and Cashman tell me if I was reading this wrong during the yamama Moto sweep Stakes like you knew something like you almost were like going to La that was it no I I took the opposite I almost had this Vibe like you

Thought you had them like I I saw the way you looked into the camera the once or twice you’re on TV almost like like uh we got him did you think that was I reading you wrong was there an extreme confidence that you were going to land

Him or was Tiki right that you kind of knew deep down he wasn’t coming here no I’d say somewhere in between that I I definitely thought um you know his interest was real our interest was certainly real um I I think you know the meetings we were able to have with them

Um were impactful and um so I I guess the last time we met with him which was here in New York you know whatever a few days before he made the decision um you know he left and was kind of like what do you think and I was

Like you know I I definitely thought we were you know one of the Front Runners or in that conversation and you know ultimately uh ultimately he he chose the Dodgers so hopefully uh hopefully uh we can meet up with him down the road and

Uh you know and and it works out for us but he he’s gonna be a really I think he’s gonna be a great pitcher uh great kid really really actually good to meet him and be around him a little bit and uh wish him success out there but you

Know hopefully we can meet up with him and and you know have the last laugh you know Skip last year it was it was such a disappointment from the fans I think even from the from the organization standpoint I mean hell we were on the show talking about fighting for 500 and

It’s not some place that you’re used to and you could feel The Angst and the anger Aaron judge even after the season said some things things got to change right and and in recovering from that well I don’t think it’s hard because all you need is is some health and some luck

And some things of that nature but there’s something real to coming back from what you guys went through last year how have you emphasized that both I mean internally but also to your team yeah look um I definitely look I I like to think we go in into every offseason hungry you know

Especially because we haven’t won at all since I’ve been here um so there’s there’s always that carrot that you’re chasing right as an you want to climb to the top of the mountain but I think La the way you know last season unfolded and not you not making the playoffs and

I think a number of guys getting dinged up and I I think it’s added fuel to everyone’s fire you know I think it’s hopefully just you know added a level of sharpness to to Winter workouts and preparation to be in the best position headed into spring training um I do

Think that there is something to that and we know we’ve got a lot of lot to prove and uh you know uh we’re excited to go hopefully prove it don’t you think it’s time to end this beard policy like it’s 2024 guys yeah like what I’m sure you

Got some power to go upstairs and say it’s over like don’t you think it’s time to end the Yankee beard policy no no it’s you know differentiates us a little bit and you know what it’s it’s amazing how many guys like I mean I always I have a

Winter beard going not to not to your level Evan right now on your face but you know I like to have the facial hair and I prefer always having a little little growth going but there is something about you know you know like during the season being a Yankee and and having to

Stay up on that and and I’ve even come to notice honestly like guys that you would think would have such an issue with it coming over to the organization actually don’t hate it that much so I’m sure at some point someday it maybe goes away but for now we’re

Gonna embrace it now I remember had say Aon not as long as I’m the manager of the newk Yankees I remember and I was serious about it to a degree though I love Tiki that when Craig left I was like you know what Boon should do afternoon drive with

Me it’d be kind of fun you could do both right so I want to ask you that I want to ask you that question sort of again our program director has left you have listened to this radio station spikes out would you like to be the PD and if

You were PD any immediate changes you’d like to make well you know what I I I was listening to you guys a few weeks ago and you were um you were I think you were bragging about your uh state capital knowledge yeah that’s true and

So I did have an issue with a couple of your pronunciation what’s the capital of Montana Helena no Helena really I thought it you know what I almost reached out to my pen pal carton text you it’s not Helena it’s Helen and I think yeah and I think coach

Brian D dable is D not D ball yes nail that D ball on me all the time we just call them D so the first thing you do as PD is yell at me for all my Miss uh pronunciations yeah we’re going to tighten up some of the pronunciations

Right he says he says Epiphany instead of epip epiphan me instead of epiphany oh yeah because it’s like to him and not to look uh SK we might we might be down in uh spring training you know the great Susan Waldman invited us to uh maybe

Come on broadcast a game if we do that you gotta come on with us you got to do it yeah yeah happy to um and maybe we can get out I I I don’t know if I told you I played I played golf with r a few

Years ago oh nice did he smoke you Ronde Ronde can stripe it now are you as good as he is I suck I look good but I suck yeah we had a great time playing out of his course he actually hit a hit a terrible shot on

One okay and like ran into the clubhouse to change a club out and came out and then probably threw out like a 77 on us and right it was all good well that’s what he does damn when you when you know exactly what you did wrong and you could

Fix it right there that means no golf that’s not me yeah he I was like he’s he’s he’s real he’s a real player he can play all right so if I get down there we’ll play some golf then cuz Ry knows everybody beautiful Aaron we appreciate

It man enjoy the rest of your winter weeks away from spring training can’t wait thank you skip yeah great talk to you guys take care be good Aaron Boone the manager of the New York Yankees It’s