Yankees: 3 replacements for Aaron Boone in 2021

The Yankees probably won’t replace Aaron Boone in 2021, but it’s worth asking: If they DID replace him, who’d be the man for the job?

New York Yankees fans are in “out for blood” mode right now, unfortunately, as is often the case after the team’s playoff exits, no matter the circumstances.

This time around, however, a good amount of the consternation is warranted.

Not because the Yankees were the objectively better team — the Rays and their Stable probably merit that honor. But because this is the fourth consecutive postseason (Astros, Red Sox, Astros again, Rays), where the Yanks went toe-to-toe with their rivals as the underdog, got edged, and didn’t get the benefit of a single tactical maneuver, bounce, or matchup adjustment.

In this instance in particular, Aaron Boone has gotten roasted, along with the front office, for going out of his way to stick a fork in the Yankees’ momentum after Game 1. Deivi Garcia pitched only a singular inning in an effort to save him for Games 4 and 5, when he absolutely wasn’t needed. JA Happ was asked to handle bulk duties, something the Rays were entirely prepared for. It wasn’t good.

So, on the oft chance the front office decides to un-install their puppet master, who could the Yankees actually turn to in Boone’s stead? The options are intriguing.

3. George Lombard

Dodgers first base coach George Lombard will be a hot candidate for many managerial jobs this offseason — including the Yankees?

The very second the Los Angeles Dodgers’ postseason run ends this year, in socially-distanced champagne or in shame, George Lombard will be on the phone with a wide variety of potential major league suitors.

With the managerial pool polluted this time around with retread criminals AJ Hinch and Alex Cora, Lombard’s presence could be seen as the guiding light to goodness.

The former Brave and Tiger has been held in high regard, training under Dave Roberts since 2016. His upbringing is also of note; his mother, a Civil Rights activist, marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Lombard’s steady leadership and the excellent tutelage he’s received has him perfectly set up for his first managerial opportunity in this difficult era.

Lombard seems like (sigh) an excellent choice to be the Astros manager who succeeds the great Dusty Baker whenever he decides to hang ’em up. Perhaps he’ll be atop the Tigers list, too.

If the Yankees want to wade in the managerial pool, they’ll certainly be giving Lombard a call.

2. Will Venable

Cubs third base coach Will Venable will be another hot commodity for the Yankees to consider.

Like Lombard, but wish the 45-year-old was even younger? Allow us to reintroduce you to Will Venable, who’s about to turn 38 and who you probably remember as a San Diego Padre from the previous decade. The managerial wheel is weird at this point!

Venable has been involved in every prominent search of the past year; he was nearly an Astro before Baker, nearly a Cub before David Ross snagged his promotion, and was involved in the Giants’ conversations as well, before they wrecked their fan base’s expectations with the Gabe Kapler hire.

The manager-in-waiting got applause from Cubs fans at the team’s convention last winter when he emphatically announced he’d be staying on Ross’ staff for the time being, but there’s a reason he piled up as many interviews before the age of 40 as he could. His time will come.

Will the Yankees dismiss Boone and immediately target another young, impressionable manager? Quite possibly. Isn’t every managerial hire these days some variety of Venable, after all? And wouldn’t Cashman and Co. want to maintain the advantage they cultivated under Boone?

Of course, if the analytical Yankees wanted to reverse course entirely and allow an old-fashioned field general to blend old school with new school, there’s another direction they could take.