How Yankees could have 'no choice' but to make bold Aaron Boone decision after 2026 season

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The New York Yankees are having a bit of a rough stretch right now, as they've faltered a little bit in the AL East, and the loss of Aaron Judge has been impacting the team in a big way recently.

Currently at 53-42 ahead of their last game before the MLB All-Star break, the Yankees are 4.0 games back on the AL East title, and 6.5 games up on the AL Wild Card field. While things aren't ideal, they're still a likely postseason team.

But, as USA Today's Bob Nightengale highlighted, if the Yankees' playoff bid isn't successful, or things go south again this postseason, Aaron Boone's job might not be safe, as Brian Cashman might have "no choice" but to change things after this year.

Yankees might have 'no choice' but to fire Aaron Boone in a few different scenarios

"Yet, if the Yankees don't win the AL East this year, if the Yankees don't play deep into October, or if somehow the Yankees miss the playoffs altogether, Cashman might have no choice but to make a change for only the fourth time in 30 years," Nightengale writes.

Of the potential scenarios in which the Yankees end up firing Boone, this Yankees team missing the postseason is the most likely outcome that would cost Boone his job.

Even with Judge's injury, the Yankees missing the postseason at this point would be a massive disappointment. It's not likely, but if it were to actually happen, Boone's job would certainly be at risk despite Cashman's support so far.

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Not winning the AL East would be disappointing as well for the Yankees this year, but it's hardly a bad-enough outcome to justify firing Boone. The Tampa Bay Rays are very good this season, and the Yankees have had some bad injury luck this season.

The middle-ground here, with the Yankees not making it deep into the postseason being a potential reason to fire Boone, would be a little more interesting.

He's only a year removed from the Yankees making the World Series, and while there's no denying things have been a little stagnant, and the fans are growing frustrated with Boone, a postseason appearance and seeing Boone get fired would be a little shocking.

But Nightengale is noting that Cashman and the Yankees might not have much of a choice but to fire Boone this upcoming offseason if the Yankees miss the postseason, fail to make it deep into the playoffs, or even fail to win the AL East.