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MLB, Baseball Herren, USA New York Yankees at Houston Astros Sep 3, 2025 Houston, Texas, USA New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone looks towards home plate during a pitching change in the eighth inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park. Houston Daikin Park Texas USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xTroyxTaorminax 20250903_tjt_at5_0049
Imago
MLB, Baseball Herren, USA New York Yankees at Houston Astros Sep 3, 2025 Houston, Texas, USA New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone looks towards home plate during a pitching change in the eighth inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park. Houston Daikin Park Texas USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xTroyxTaorminax 20250903_tjt_at5_0049
The New York Yankees may be preaching continuity after their ALCS exit, but not everyone in pinstripes is buying the message. As Toronto tightens its grip on the rivalry and eyes dominance heading into 2026, Aaron Boone’s confidence in his unchanged core is now being openly challenged by a Yankees loyalist who believes the manager is misreading both the moment and the threat posed by the surging Blue Jays.
That confidence, however, has been consistent from Boone since the season ended, with the manager framing last year’s disappointment as a near miss rather than a warning sign.
“The end of last season was arguably the hardest one I’ve had,” Boone said. “Because I felt so strongly about our group. … We’ve had a couple of great teams, but maybe we’ve been [broken] at the end of the year, beat up. Last year, it was happening, and so that’s what made it difficult at the end for me, is that now you get beat and you go home, and it was to a division rival that kind of beat you up throughout the course of the year. So I’m personally excited about having the players that we do going back at it because I think there’s a hunger there after we didn’t finish the job, and I think we’re really good.”
However, Bryan McKeon of Locked On Yankees pushed back on that framing while speaking with Stacey Gotsulias, arguing that Boone’s interpretation overlooks a critical reality.
“I’ll say this. I hear where he’s coming from. Because this was the 1st year in his tenure, which is crazy to think about, but they were truly healthy going into the postseason. We were talking about how you could feel more confident because the majority of the year, they were not fully healthy, and then all of a sudden, now the playoffs are starting, and hey, now they’re actually minus Gerrit Cole, fully healthy going into this postseason, and it didn’t work out,” McKeon stated.
McKeon’s concern is not limited to one postseason failure. He believes the imbalance between the two clubs has now become entrenched, with Toronto holding a clear psychological and competitive advantage.
“It feels like [The Toronto Blue Jays] they have your number. And honestly, I think this rolls over into 2026. Until you can prove that you can beat them, they have your number. Like, they own you until then,” McKeon explained.
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That warning comes as the Yankees have largely stood pat this offseason. Rather than aggressively reshaping the roster, New York opted to re-sign familiar names, including Cody Bellinger, Amed Rosario, and Trent Grisham, with Ryan Weathers being the only external addition. The strategy reflects Boone’s belief that internal continuity and motivation are enough to close the gap.
Toronto, meanwhile, has continued to reinforce a roster that already proved capable of overpowering New York when it mattered most. The Blue Jays added power-hitting infielder Kazuma Okamoto and remain anchored by established contributors such as Vladimir Gurriel Jr., Kevin Gausman, and Dylan Cease. The contrast in offseason direction has only amplified skepticism surrounding Boone’s optimism.
For McKeon, the issue is not effort or belief, but evidence. Until the Yankees demonstrate they can consistently defeat Toronto in meaningful games, he sees Boone’s confidence as disconnected from the reality of the rivalry.
As the calendar moves closer to 2026, the pressure is mounting on the Yankees to prove that standing firm was a calculated decision rather than a costly misread, because for now, the Blue Jays appear firmly in control of the division’s power dynamic.
That growing urgency has also sparked speculation about whether New York will stick entirely with continuity or make a late, familiar move to reinforce the roster.
The Yankees might be looking to re-sign Paul Goldschmidt
In line with that thinking, the New York Yankees might be considering a potential reunion with Paul Goldschmidt for the upcoming season. Notably, Goldschmidt played his 1st and only season with the team last year, making a return both practical and symbolically aligned with the organization’s preference for trusted veterans.
Whether such a move materializes or not, it would signal that the Yankees recognize the narrowing margin for error as the Blue Jays continue to set the pace within the division.
Paul Goldschmidt will be bringing back his slugging skills to the New York Yankees if they re-sign him. Last May, he displayed his slugging skills against the Tampa Bay Rays. He swung his bat and confidently blasted a 98.6 mph four-seam fastball from Mason Montgomery into a 96.7 mph three-run home run to right field in the bottom of the 5th inning. The ball was caught by a spectator. That three-run home run helped the Yankees take a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the 5th inning. In 146 games, he recorded 10 home runs and 45 RBIs.
Apart from his slugging skills, Paul Goldschmidt will also bring his skills as 1st baseman to the New York Yankees and will fit in alongside Cody Bellinger, Ben Rice, and Oswaldo Cabrera.
With Spring Training starting in around 2 weeks, the only thing to look out for is whether the Yankees complete their old team with the addition of Paul Goldschmidt or not.