Boone Declares Yankees’ Gap with Blue Jays Narrow After Playoff Loss

UPDATE: New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone has acknowledged the dominance of the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2025 season, stating they “kicked our ass,” yet he insists the competitive gap between the two American League East rivals is not as significant as their record suggests.

In an urgent statement following the Yankees’ playoff exit, Boone emphasized that the Blue Jays outperformed his team with an 8-5 regular-season record, including a staggering 6-1 in Toronto. This performance ultimately helped Toronto secure the AL East title after both teams finished with an impressive 98-64 record.

The Blue Jays continued to assert their prowess by overpowering the Yankees in the AL Division Series, winning in four games and outscoring New York 34-19. “We ended up with the identical records last year,” Boone explained. “I don’t want to discount that they kicked our ass last year… They certainly proved to be the better team this year.”

Following their playoff run, which concluded with a heartbreaking Game 7 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Blue Jays have been active in the offseason. They recently signed free-agent starters Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce, enhancing a rotation that features Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage, Shane Bieber, and Jose Berrios.

As the offseason progresses, the Blue Jays are also reportedly interested in retaining infielder Bo Bichette and pursuing top free-agent outfielder Kyle Tucker, further solidifying their roster for the upcoming season.

The Yankees, on the other hand, have extended a qualifying offer of $22.025 million to center fielder Trent Grishman and re-signed pitcher Ryan Yarbrough for $2.5 million. General manager Brian Cashman stated that the team is also eyeing free-agent outfielder Cody Bellinger, hoping to bolster their right-handed lineup.

Bellinger had a standout season against left-handed pitchers, boasting a batting average of .353 with an 1.016 OPS across 176 plate appearances. Additionally, the Yankees are prioritizing improvements to their bullpen and seeking a starting pitcher, as Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon are expected to start the season on the injured list.

As offseason moves continue to unfold, all eyes are on the Yankees and Blue Jays as they prepare for the upcoming season. Fans are eager to see if the Yankees can close the gap and reclaim their status in the competitive AL East.