Heading into the postseason, word around the Yankees was that the team had to win at least one round, and probably two, in order for manager Aaron Boone to keep his job. Whether or not that's fair, it was reality.

That mission seemed accomplished after the American League Championship Series. But the first game of the World Series presented a curveball of sorts, as Boone found himself under intense public scrutiny for his decision to call for Nestor Cortes in the 10th inning.

Cortes, of course, surrendered a game-winning grand slam to Freddie Freeman. Sometimes external noise infiltrates the Yankee offices and influences decisions, and the volume on this one was loud.

But we checked: Yankees brass did not view Boone’s call for Cortes as a blunder, but as a close decision that could have gone either way. If some folks in the building would have left Luke Weaver in the game (as Boone suggested he might have), or called on lefty specialist Tim Hill, Boone’s bosses understood the solid rationale behind the Cortes move.

In other words, it was a million miles from a fireable offense, in the eyes of the folks making that decision.

As such, Boone is expected back as manager in 2025, despite how the World Series went, according to multiple sources with direct knowledge of the team’s thinking. That would have been the case even if the Yankees had been swept.

The Yankees hold an option on Boone for next season. To avoid a lame duck year, it would be logical to follow the pennant-winning season with a contract extension.

After an extremely sloppy Game 5 loss -- after a sloppy fundamental season -- the Yankees will need to tighten up that aspect of the roster. But the organization views Boone as the right leader.

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