NEW YORK — Aaron Boone has guided the New York Yankees to the postseason in seven of his eight seasons as manager. He took the team to the World Series in 2024. His regular season record stands at 697-497. And yet, as the 2026 season approaches, the conversation around his future in pinstripes refuses to go away.
The reason is simple. For all the winning Boone has done, the Yankees have not captured a championship since 2009. One pennant in eight years is not the standard in the Bronx. With the franchise investing heavily again this offseason, the pressure to deliver a title has never been higher.
So what happens if the Yankees stumble early? Who might be waiting in the wings?
Two WBC managers emerge as candidates
As the 2026 World Baseball Classic unfolds in Miami, two names with deep ties to the Yankees organization have surfaced as potential successors to Boone. Both are managing national teams in the tournament, and both have turned heads with their performance.
The first is Francisco Cervelli, the former Yankees catcher who spent six seasons in the Bronx from 2008 through 2013. Cervelli is managing Italy in this year’s WBC, and his squad has been the surprise of the tournament. Italy is a perfect 5-0, having upset the United States and two-time runners-up Puerto Rico by identical 8-6 scores. As of Monday, Italy faces Venezuela in the semifinal, with a shot at the championship game on the line.
FanSided’s Jake Elman proposed Cervelli as a strong fit for the Yankees in a recent analysis. He pointed to the franchise’s history of hiring from within its own alumni network.
“With just a single pennant through his first eight seasons, Aaron Boone might have the greatest job security of any active MLB manager,” Elman wrote. “Cervelli, a former Yankees prospect who played for the team from 2008 through 2013, aligns with the criteria the Yankees might prioritize if they move on from Boone. Boone and Girardi both played for the Yankees, with the latter serving as an assistant coach under Joe Torre after retiring. Cervelli has gotten his feet wet at the WBC, and he’s shown that he can handle the pressure.”
The comparison to Joe Girardi is notable. Girardi won the World Series in just his second season managing the Yankees in 2009. Boone has not matched that. With Cervelli proving he can lead a talented roster on the international stage, the idea of him as a future Yankees manager has gained traction.
Pujols adds his name to the mix
The second name generating buzz is Albert Pujols, the three-time NL MVP and two-time World Series champion. Pujols is managing the Dominican Republic’s WBC squad, which entered the semifinal as one of the tournament favorites. The Dominicans went 4-0 in pool play before falling to Team USA 2-1 in a tightly contested semifinal on Sunday night.
Even in defeat, Pujols’ handling of a roster packed with stars like Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Fernando Tatis Jr. has drawn praise. The 11-time All-Star served as a special assistant with the Los Angeles Angels and was linked to managerial openings for the San Diego Padres, Baltimore Orioles and Angels this past offseason.
Team DR first base coach Julio Borbon offered an endorsement of Pujols during an appearance on the Foul Territory Show this week.
“His resume speaks for itself. The way he commands a room, the way he interacts with players, as a group and individually, has been very eye-opening,” Borbon said. “I think he’s as prepared as anybody. One thing that surprised me is that he wants a back-and-forth. It’s not just a one-way highway. He wants input and to make sure any ideas are brought forth and that we are open.”
Sportsnaut reported that Pujols would be a serious candidate for both the Yankees and the New York Mets if either team parts ways with its current manager after this season. His ability to manage big personalities under pressure mirrors what would be required in the Bronx.
Boone’s seat stays warm despite results
For now, Boone’s job appears secure. He is under contract through 2027, and general manager Brian Cashman has publicly backed him. But the Yankees faithful have heard those assurances before.
The 2024 World Series appearance bought Boone some goodwill. The 2025 campaign erased much of it. Despite a competitive roster, the Yankees were eliminated in the ALDS by the Toronto Blue Jays. It was the kind of October exit that fuels offseason speculation every year in New York.
If the Yankees get off to a slow start or suffer another early playoff exit, the calls for a change will grow louder. And with names like Cervelli and Pujols already circulating, the front office would not be short on options.
The Yankees way of choosing managers
There is a clear pattern in how the Yankees pick their managers. Torre, Girardi and Boone all have experienced the blues of high-stakes baseball in New York before becoming managers. While Girardi and Boone played for the Yankees, Torre was part of the Mets. The franchise likes leaders who understand the weight of wearing pinstripes.
Cervelli fits that mold. He came up through the Yankees farm system and spent his formative years in the Bronx. Pujols, while never a Yankee, carries the kind of stature and championship pedigree that commands respect in any clubhouse like Torre.
Neither man is guaranteed to manage the Yankees. But the fact that both are being discussed shows just how thin the line is between Boone’s continued tenure and a potential change. The 2026 season will determine which side of that line the Yankees land on.
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