When Aaron Boone sat at the podium late Wednesday after losing the division series to Toronto and said, “It's hard to win the World Series. Been chasing it all my life,” his pain was raw and real, matching the heartbreak of the Yankees fans who have to wait yet another year to feel the joy that came so easily a generation ago.
Losing in the playoffs is a terrible, thudding blow. No one wants to feel this again 12 months from now.
But sometimes the way to get there is through discipline and continuity. The Yankees did not lose to Toronto because of some glaring flaw or cultural rot. They won 94 games in the regular season, then lost a baseball series to a team that in most years is worse than they are, and this year was slightly better. It’s not that deep.
Here’s a plan for how the Yankees can once again contend for a championship in 2026:
Re-signing free agent Cody Bellinger in free agency and extending Jazz Chisholm Jr.
For several years, and with a nudge from top executive Omar Minaya, the Yankees have worked to become more athletic. Long gone are the days of Gleyber Torres in the middle infield and Luke Voit at first base.
The Yankees go into next year with plus defense at third base, too, with Ryan McMahon, and an excellent game caller behind the plate in Austin Wells.
Bellinger is a speedy, rangy, power-hitting plus defender at four positions. It makes no sense to sacrifice that for a pursuit of free agent Kyle Tucker. Like, come on people. There is no comparison to the versatility, despite Tucker’s somewhat better OPS.
We don’t yet know Bellinger’s contract demands, and of course there is a point at which any deal is too much. But losing Bellinger is the only roster move that would leave the Yankees significantly worse heading into next season (this is assuming health for Aaron Judge).
Chisholm is another dynamic athlete, and a smart player. Yeah, I said it. A smart player, despite what the weird haters somehow see.
Chisholm is an expert baserunner who spent time during the last two years helping Juan Soto and Judge improve their ability to read from first base when a pitcher is going home. He is a relative of the acclaimed Mets first base coach Antoan Richardson — the guy who helped Soto steal 38 bases — and shares Richardson’s expertise in that area.
Chisholm made up a stat this year, “home runs plus stolen bases,” and challenged Judge to a competition. Judge only edged Chisholm, 65 to 62. Chisholm hit 31 home runs as a middle infielder.
He is also the type of team player that every organization needs. Earlier this season, when DJ LeMahieu could not or would not play third base, Chisholm agreed to do it. The move might have cost him free agent money, because the industry values 30-home run second basemen over 30-home run corner guys. He did it anyway. Pay the man.
Make sure not to scapegoat Aaron Boone
The Yankees manager did a masterful job — that’s right, masterful — in a few key areas this year. Look at his handling of Devin Williams, knowing to pull Williams from the closer role early to save his season, then finding soft lanes for him to rebuild confidence during several slumps.
The difference between public perception of how Boone functions in his job — Alex Rodriguez, totally disconnected from the reality of the organization, recently called the manager a “mouthpiece” for the front office — is vast.
Boone is under contract, and his job is 99.98 percent safe. 99.97 percent safe? Here’s hoping, for the Yankees’ sake, that the small handful of internal muttering about him does not mushroom into a discussion about change.
Re-think shortstop
A team could do worse than a shortstop who hits 20 home runs and has upside defensively. But really, the Yankees’ best opportunity for a vibe shift after this postseason loss is to get together and have an honest talk about Anthony Volpe.
It is too bad that onetime prospect Oswald Peraza never developed into a hitter, because the Yankees need a shortstop of the sort that Peraza was supposed to become — a guy with a stronger arm and better feel for that important position.
Acquire a plus defender, even if a part-time player, for first base
For decades, the Yankees have believed in the need for a plus defender at first base. They have only deviated from this approach a few times.
The team can continue to utilize Ben Rice in a unique 1B/backup catcher/DH rotation, but needs to replace Paul Goldschmidt's defense at first. In a pinch, Bellinger could move from the outfield to late-inning defense at first, though a righty hitter would better fit the roster (the Yankees also need to re-sign Amed Rosario or an equivalent righty bench piece).
If Spencer Jones can hold down an outfield spot, which the Yankees hope he will, Bellinger can play even more first base.
Supplement the bullpen
The Yankees have oodles of starting pitching. If Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt return as expected from Tommy John surgeries next season, they’ll join Max Fried, Cam Schlittler and Carlos Rodon atop an elite rotation.
The team also has pitching prospects Carlos Lagrange, Bryce Cunningham, Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz and Ben Hess in the pipeline.
Once the Yankees replace free agents Williams and Luke Weaver with bullpen acquisitions, their pitching will be in good shape. By the end of the season, Camilo Doval looked like a late-inning trade deadline gem.
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