Texas Rangers v New York Yankees / Focus On Sport/GettyImages

After a trip to the World Series, followed by a Fall Classic that included plenty of [FOOTAGE DELETED], the New York Yankees officially re-upped with manager Aaron Boone on Friday afternoon.

How long will this marriage be maintained? That’s anybody’s guess. General Manager Brian Cashman had nothing but glowing things to say about Boone this week, and praised even his most controversial World Series decisions. Rather than extend him, though, the Yankees merely picked up their 2025 option on the manager’s services.

Is an extension coming? If so, when? For now, the Yankees will continue to kick that long-term decision down the line.

In fairness to Boone, he outfoxed inexperienced Manager of the Year candidates Matt Quatraro (Royals) and Stephen Vogt (Guardians) in the ALDS and ALCS. For all intents and purposes, he empowered the locker room this season; in The Athletic’s post-ALCS story, it appeared as if Boone had finally unlocked the perfect balance of belief and team-building quirks. Jazz Chisholm heaped praise on Boone’s ability to facilitate his true self emerging. A wall of Polaroids and a team wrestling belt evoked championship teams past.

But … in unfairness to Boone … the sloppiness that pervaded the World Series was nothing new. Perhaps that’s what happens when the players feel too comfortable and powerful? The Dodgers explicitly called out Chisholm for looking confused at third base on unfamiliar relay throws. Maybe his true self required a few lessons?

Leave it to former Yankee Rubén Sierra to join X with a bang, immediately questioning whether Boone was being a friend to his Yankees or a manager.

Former Yankees slugger Rubén Sierra is baffled by Aaron Boone’s return

Joe Torre always seemed to split the difference; his former players have glowing things to say about his leadership skills and impact on their well-being, but at the same time, he was no stranger to tough decisions. If you didn’t like it? Sorry, Denny Neagle. You’re still yanked.

On the flip side, Sierra’s Yankees were sucked through the vortex under Torre, undergoing the worst single-series playoff collapse in MLB history. But those 2004 Yankees were undermanned, fighting all year long to stay above water. They won 101 games with an 89-73 pythagorean record. It all crashed down around them when Mariano Rivera blew a save, but it took an incredible managing job to take them to the precipice in the first place.

In the end, there’s room in the modern game for managers like Boone, who thrive on fostering a culture of brotherhood. It’s also hard to blame Boone for boneheaded, one-in-a-trillion mistakes like Aaron Judge doinking a fly ball in Game 5 of the World Series.

It’s fair to blame him, though, for what happened next, as his entire ill-prepared team let it spiral, overwhelmed by the moment. Tightening that up is what’s next for Boone’s Yankees and, as of now, he only has one more year to do it. That should satisfy Sierra slightly.