The Tuesday Discussion: The 2026 Yankees Manager

Oct. 14, 2025

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This week we asked our writers to respond to the following:

Who would you like to see as the manager of the Yankees in 2026?

Here are their responses:

*** Tamar Chalker - I honestly don’t know, but I do think that making a switch would be a good idea at this point. They just seem kind of stagnant at this point and it is one of the few areas that hasn’t undergone a big change recently.

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Paul Semendinger - Bruce Bochy. If it can't be Bochy, give me Joe Maddon. Either way, what also has to happen is that Brian Cashman has to allow the manager to manage his way. It is time for the Yankees to have a manager who is regarded as one of the best in the business.

What is also clear is that the Aaron Boone Era should be over. If it's not 2026 will end just like 2025 and every other year since 2018 - without a World Championship. It is way past time to move on from Aaron Boone.

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Cary Greene - Considering Brain Cashman will still be the GM, the Yankees are better off with their current manager, Aaron Boone, being the manager in 2026. Derek Jeter made an interesting comment the other day on a live broadcast, saying that though he didn't know for sure, he suspected that Boone was not the person calling most of the in-game moves. If Cashman is going to run the most storied franchise in MLB this way, then what does it matter who the manager is? Boone is a player's manager who coddles the overly needy NY media - he's perfect for the job. Nothing to see here folks -- move along. We're in for more of the same as long Brian Cashman runs the Yankees. 

Also - Boone is way better suited for the role I've described above than other candidates, including Duncan and Bochy. I will add this though - "IF" Cashman was removed and a regime change was initiated by Hal Steinbrenner, Derek Jeter would be a great candidate to pursue - not sure he'd have interest, but he's a strong fit for an on the field manager who has full control of any and all decisions made. 

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Andrew Hefner - Jorge Posada - though it will likely never happen...

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Ethan Semendinger - As a proud graduate of Lafayette College, I am all-in on Joe Maddon, who is also a graduate of that great school.

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Ed Botti - Just to be clear, I do not see a change at the manger level for the Yankees in 2026, and the change I would make is at the GM (I am like a broken record going back to 2019, sorry!).

But, if I were to daydream about a change, there are a few I wouldn’t mind seeing in the Bronx.

In previous years when we have had similar discussions, I have stated the Aaron Boone should be given the chance to manage this team without the overreaching input from the analytics staff. However I am now going to shift since I learned, via Suzyn Waldman, that he is on the same page with those folks and always has been. So, I have seen enough of that after 8 years.

I don’t think a rookie first timer manager is the way to go with this squad, but I could be persuaded in a few cases. I certainly would not hire a rookie that has never managed or even coached before and is leaving a broadcast booth to do so. That you can take to the bank.

I’ll start with the obvious.

Joe Maddon. Nearly 1,400 MLB wins and World Series ring as a manger. He is 71 years young, however.

Bruce Bochy is saying he is done managing at 70. But money talks especially if my choice for GM, Brian Sabean, calls him. Bochy is a winner.

Bob Melvin is surprisingly available and would be an upgrade, for sure.

I admire the way Torey Lovullo runs a game and his team. He has never had the resources in Arizona that he would have in the Bronx, yet still has managed to keep his team playing good, solid baseball in the competitive NL West. He has 1 year remaining on his contract extension. That would be a call I would make.

Up and comers wise, Shelly Duncan is an interesting option who has put in the time. He has done a great job in the minors for both the Diamondbacks and the Yankees, many of the current players already know him, and have played for him. He was also the Major League Field Coordinator for the Toronto Blue Jays.

He will not be a minor league manager much longer, IMO.

Along those lines, it was only 3 or 4 years ago that the MLB insider consensus was that Jason Giambi was a rising star in the manager ranks. He has served under the tutelage of Tito Francona in Cleveland. I’d give him a call as well and see what his future plans are, and if he wants to get back into the game in some way, shape, or fashion.

Mark DeRosa knows the game, and has managed team USA in 2023, was asked to do it again in 2026 and accepted, and is a guy that preaches fundamentals first. He should be in the game, not hosting a show on MLBN.

But, my first call would be Joe Maddon. A proven winner. I’d hire him, and have him build his own staff, which may consist of a couple mentioned above. His personality and passion would click with this team from Day 1.

But like I said above, to bring in the next Championship team, a change is needed first and foremost at the GM level. A fresh new approach after 27 years. Until that happens, things will not change in the Bronx, IMO.

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Tim Kabel - I would like to see the Yankees name Bruce Bochy as the manager for 2026 with Shelley Duncan as his bench coach. Duncan was just named the AAA manager of the year. I would have no problem promoting him directly to the position, but I don’t know that the Yankees would do that. Having him learn from Bochy for two or possibly three years would be a wonderful situation.

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Lincoln Mitchell - It would be much easier to ask who I do not want to see as manager of the Yankees in 2026. However, while I do not have a frontrunner who I would like to see replace Aaron Boone if he is fired, here are some people who I would like to see in the job: Alyssa Nakken, Shelly Duncan, a bunch of guys who played circa 2015 whose names do not immediately come to mind. the ghost of Casey Stengel, the doorman down the street from me who is a huge Yankees fan, my high school baseball coach Frank who is a lifelong San Francisco Giants fan, but could be dragged out of retirement if the price is right.