TAMPA — When Hal Steinbrenner held court with reporters on Thursday, he primarily answered questions regarding Juan Soto’s future, the Yankees’ ability to upgrade their roster and the “embarrassment” that was the 2023 season.
But the owner touched on a few other topics as well, including how he regards the club’s top prospects, Aaron Boone’s contract status, a “significant” promotion and more. Let’s take a closer look.
A NEW FUNNEL FOR INFORMATION
Steinbrenner said that offseason conversations with Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole sparked a new addition to the major league coaching staff after the two stars raised issues with how the Yankees communicate analytics with players.
“There were some concerns that both of them raised last year about not so much the information we give them, but how it’s presented to them,” Steinbrenner said. “How it ‘funnels down,’ I think, were Judge’s words.”
So the Yankees promoted Aaron Leanhardt to the role of major league coaching staff analyst, the Daily News confirmed. While Steinbrenner didn’t mention the name, he said Leanhardt is “unbelievably versed and intelligent in analytics but also was a coach.”
“[He’s] great working with people, great explaining things and teaching things and listening to what the people he’s dealing with have to say,” Steinbrenner continued.
The Yankees initially hired Leanhardt to be the hitting coach of their Gulf Coast League team in 2018. He’s been the organization’s assistant minor league hitting coordinator the past two seasons, and Steinbrenner noted that he also has experience coaching at Dawson Community College in Glendive, Montana.
“He has a work ethic that just isn’t comparable to anyone I have ever been around,” former Dawson head coach Chris Lewis said when the Yankees originally hired Leanhardt. “In my 20-plus years in coaching, I have never seen a work ethic like his.
“Not only does he understand hitting as it relates to coaching, he understands the numbers, the data and the science behind it as well.”
Leanhardt has a PhD in physics from MIT and taught the subject as a professor at the University of Michigan.
Steinbrenner added that Leanhardt already has Judge’s approval after the two met in Tampa.
“He’s going to be a great addition,’ Steinbrenner said. “So many questions about significant changes, significant changes – we’re introducing somebody new to the clubhouse. That’s a significant change, as far as I’m concerned.”
Leanhardt’s role was previously filled by Zac Fieroh. Fieroh is still with the organization in a front office role, but he’s no longer on the big league staff.
UNWILLING TO MOVE YOUNGSTERS
While discussing the trade for Soto, Steinbrenner made it clear that, in his opinion, the Yankees gave up a massive haul. The team traded five players to the Padres for the superstar and Trent Grisham: Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Jhony Brito, Randy Vásquez and Kyle Higashioka.
While the Yankees lost a handful of young pitchers in that trade and other offseason transactions, Steinbrenner said that he was not willing to part with top pitching prospects Will Warren and Chase Hampton. He said he will remain “hesitant” to move them and top prospect Spencer Jones as the Yankees seek improvements to their roster.
All three received invites to big league camp this spring.
Steinbrenner added that he expects to see Warren in the majors “at some point this season,” echoing what pitching Matt Blake said toward the end of the offseason.
BOONE’S CONTRACT
Boone is entering the last guaranteed year of his contract. The manager has a club option for 2025.
With Boone’s long-term future uncertain, Steinbrenner could have set a goal, issued some sort of mandate or offered a vote of confidence for the skipper on Thursday. Instead, he punted when asked about what he needs to see from Boone in order to continue this relationship.
“That’s something I deal with when the season’s over,” Steinbrenner said. “It’s not something I’m pondering right now. There’s just so much baseball.”
Boone took over as the Yankees’ manager in 2018. He has a 509-361 record and five postseason appearances since. However, the Yankees have yet to reach the World Series under Boone, and the team watched last year’s playoffs from home.
WHAT ABOUT CASHMAN?
Steinbrenner was also asked if Brian Cashman is under more pressure this season.
“There’s more pressure on all of us,” Steinbrenner deflected. “Look at me. I mean, look at the bags under my eyes. There’s pressure on all of us, man. We’re feeling it, and that’s a good thing. We deserve to feel it. That’s going to make us stronger this year.”
Steinbrenner repeatedly said that the entire organization has “something to prove” after last year’s “disaster.” When asked if he personally felt he needed to prove himself to fans — not all believe the owner is all-in — Steinbrenner repeated that “we have something to prove.”
According to Cot’s Contracts, the Yankees’ luxury tax payroll is just over $306 million. In the past, Steinbrenner has said that it shouldn’t take a $300 million payroll to win a championship, but he is venturing beyond the highest luxury tax threshold.
