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Yankees manager Aaron Boone admits Red Sox look like a ‘formidable team’ after offseason moves
"I think it’s really good for the game when the two of us are really good."
One of the best ways to get an assessment of the Red Sox offseason is how it’s being characterized by the manager of Boston’s perpetual rival, the Yankees.
And from that standpoint, the efforts made by the Red Sox front office to improve the roster appear to have drawn a concerned eye from Yankees manager Aaron Boone (who, from his playing days, is already a central figure in the rivalry’s history).
Boone spoke to Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe about Boston’s offseason upgrades on Monday, grudgingly acknowledging the strides made by his American League East counterparts.
“I think we started to see an athletic group emerge last year,” Boone told Abraham. “Thought they really moved the needle from a pitching standpoint and then have obviously only bolstered that this year.”
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The Red Sox were able to acquire starting pitchers like Garrett Crochet and Walker Buehler along with reliever Aroldis Chapman. Boone also credited the February free agent signing of former Astros infielder Alex Bregman.
“Getting Alex here recently, they look like they have a really formidable team,” he said of Boston’s Bregman addition. “We talk about our division and how tough it is, I certainly feel that way sitting here right now. You can make a case for all five teams.”
Currently, Vegas oddsmakers have the Yankees as the clear favorites to win the division, with the Red Sox and Orioles ranking second and third (depending on the oddsmaker). The Rays and Blue Jays are seen as long shots.
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In 2024, the Yankees overcame a strong challenge from the Orioles to win the A.L. East by three games (with a 94-68 record). The Red Sox finished a distant third at 81-81.
Boone was far from dismissive of his Boston rivals, noting that they are “always a tough opponent.”
Assessing the bigger picture, he also admitted that it can be a positive thing when the Red Sox are vying for titles alongside the Yankees.
“I think it’s really good for the game when the two of us are really good.”
Boone played a decisive role in the 2003 American League Championship Series, famously (or, for Red Sox fans, infamously) smacking the series-deciding walk-off home run in Game 7 off of Boston knuckleballer Tim Wakefield.
As a manager, he’s had less success against the Yankees’ rival. His team lost to Boston in the 2018 American League Division Series 3-1 as well as the one-off 2021 wild-card matchup. In fact, since falling behind to the Yankees 3-0 in the 2004 ALCS, the Red Sox are 7-1 against their rivals in the postseason.
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