Yankees' drastic 2026 decision should be simple if they lose Wild Card to Red Sox

Let the record state: we believe the New York Yankees will defeat the Boston Red Sox in the AL Wild Card series. Most Yankees fans are not happy this is their opponent, especially since one more lousy win would've given them a division title, but they have to play the hand they are dealt. And most of us are looking for revenge for what the Sox did to the Bombers in the playoffs in 2004, 2018 and 2021.

However, in the event things go off the rails (something we've seen plenty of times with this team) and they are bounced once again by their most hated rival, there's one drastic offseason decision that will quiet the loud criticism from the fanbase: the Yankees need to part ways with manager Aaron Boone.

We write this fully knowing that they won't do that because that would hardly be the worst failure of Boone's tenure. All of 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 would probably take the cake over an early exit in 2025. Plus, the Yankees have not been viewed as a World Series favorite ever since their Summer Swoon began in late May.

They lost Gerrit Cole at the start of the year. They didn't have Giancarlo Stanton or Luis Gil more months to begin the season. They lost Clarke Schmidt along the way. Devin Williams turned into a scarecrow after Brian Cashman traded for him. Oswaldo Cabrera went down in mid-May. All of Oswald Peraza, DJ LeMahieu, Jorbit Vivas, JC Escarra, Pablo Reyes, Carlos Carrasco, Marcus Stroman, Jonathan Loaisiga, Yerry De Los Santos and JT Brubaker logged regular reps at some point in the first half. Anthony Volpe was considerably worse in Year 3.

In theory, this team had no business winning 94 games, but they did, in part thanks to a transformative Brian Cashman trade deadline. It could be argued, however, that the Yankees' rebound was in spite of Boone. It's hard to think of ways the Yankees skipper elevated this roster — he's more of a caretaker. While there's value in that, it's not characteristic of a great playoff skipper.

Boone seemingly does adequate job managing stars, given how Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, Jazz Chisholm, Max Fried and Carlos Rodón have performed. But the Yankees need a lot more than that, most notably when it comes to navigating the agitating Alex Cora and the pesky Red Sox.

Yankees should fire Aaron Boone if they lose Wild Card series to Red Sox, but they won't

Parting with Boone after a Wild Card loss to the Red Sox would send a message this team has needed for years. Keep in mind, we are speaking hypothetically here. We are not pessimistic about the Yankees' chances vs Boston, but we are very much aware of the harsh reality we could face. This Yankees team has not defeated anybody besides the Athletics, Twins, Royals and Guardians since 2018.

For years, it has felt like the Yankees needed a voice shift in the clubhouse. Boone gets along with the players and he's well-liked, but there's always something missing when there's a target on the Yankees' back. For example, he's already benching the team's hottest hitter (besides Judge) in Ben Rice because of a lefty-lefty matchup vs Garrett Crochet in Game 1.

Could it work? Sure. Will it? No idea. Doesn't feel like it will. But the Yankees are hosting the Red Sox in the Bronx. They will still very much be alive if they lose Game 1. Boston just lost Lucas Giolito to an injury and most would agree they have the matchup advantages with Rodón vs Brayan Bello and Cam Schlittler vs (likely starter) Connelly Early.

The Yankees are better than the Red Sox on paper. While that's not everything, it should be enough with homefield advantage plus the star presence and veteran cohesion New York possesses. The Red Sox dealt with unimaginable roster upheaval this past year and their best player is a 21-year-old who is out of action.

It's a series you lose if you're unprepared and scared. And it's the manager's job to make sure neither of those characteristics loom large. We'll have our answers on Thursday, and hopefully we send Boston packing and don't have to bring this up again.