The New York Yankees finished 4.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East and lost a three-game sweep of the Rays in the AL division series.
However, the ownership team and the front office seem intent on working with much of the same personnel next season, at least on the management and coaching side. Manager Aaron Boone will return, as will general manager Brian Cashman, amid criticism for falling short of World Series expectations despite carrying the highest projected salary in the AL at $310 million.
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Pitching coach Matt Blake will also return, reportedly agreeing to a three-year contract extension, according to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman.
Blake, 41, was hired as the Yankees’ pitching coach before the 2019 season and has been in that role ever since. He had no MLB coaching experience prior to joining Boone’s staff, serving as Cleveland’s assistant director of player development, then director of medical development. Blake’s contract is set to expire after the World Series.
The Yankees pitching staff has been excellent this season under Blake’s improvement. Led by likely AL Cy Young Award winner Cam Schlittler (1.95 ERA, 11.1 innings per 9 innings), in addition to starters Gerrit Cole (3.61 ERA), Max Fried (2.80) and Carlos Rodon (2.67), New York was first in MLB with a 3.23 team ERA and an AL-best opponents’ batting average of .224.
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Yankees relievers also finished near the top of MLB, second with a collective 3.13 ERA. Right-hander David Bednar finished with a 2.47 ERA and 35 saves, while shortstops Paul Blackburn (1.69 ERA) and Brent Headrick (2.18, 11.1 Ks/9) repeatedly suggested the Yankees had a lead in the ninth inning.
However, Bednar and Blackburn are free agents, as are Tim Hill and Ryan Yarbrough.
“I can’t say anything bad about the pitching staff, despite the injuries,” said Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner, via The Athletic. “They’ve been consistent and terrific all year, and they were the reason we made it in the playoffs.”
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“We definitely felt this year, from that point of view, we had the ingredients to win the championship,” Boone said earlier in the week. “And this disappointment part s.”
Steinbrenner also praised Boone’s handling of the pitching staff in announcing that he would return as manager next season.
“I thought Boone had a good season, especially with the shooting staff,” Steinbrenner said. “We went up to drink, and the only line is the players do not live up to their end of the playoff agreement.”