HOUSTON — Aaron Boone was just about to head down to the visiting dugout at Daikin Park on Saturday night when he started hearing “whispers” about Alex Cora getting fired.
The Yankees manager was not initially sure if the news about his Red Sox counterpart was true, but eventually got some confirmation, which did not lessen the stunning nature of it.
“Very shocked,” Boone said after an 8-3 win over the Astros. “Certainly surprising and probably caught us off guard. I’ll probably dive into it a little more tonight.”
Boone, who has been good friends with Cora dating to their time together at ESPN, just saw him earlier this week as the Yankees swept the Red Sox at Fenway Park.
But two days later, after the Red Sox’s 17-1 win over the Orioles on Saturday afternoon made them 10-17 on the season, Boston’s front office orchestrated a bloodbath, firing Cora and five members of his staff, including former Yankees hitting coach Dillon Lawson.
“I have a feeling [Cora] will do whatever he wants,” Boone said. “He’s a great manager. Smart, talented person that I’m sure will have a lot of opportunities available to him.”
Reliever Angel Chivilli landed on the 15-day injured list Saturday with right shoulder discomfort, as the Yankees became the last team in the majors to place a player on the IL during the regular season.
“The last day in Boston [Thursday] when he was putting his shirt on, he felt his shoulder was bothering him,” Boone said. “So he was getting treatment the last couple days. Went out and tried to throw today just to see and wasn’t great. He’ll probably head back to New York and get testing and see where we’re at over the next few days.”
Chivilli last pitched Sunday against the Royals, when he threw 1 ²/₃ scoreless innings.
The right-hander’s placement on the injured list allowed fellow reliever Jake Bird to stick around when Ryan Weathers was activated off the paternity list to start Saturday’s game. Bird, who threw a scoreless seventh inning Saturday, had been called up when Weathers went on the paternity list Wednesday but will now remain in the bullpen.
Boone watched Carlos Rodón’s first rehab start Friday night and came away encouraged by what he saw from the left-hander, who is returning from October elbow surgery and then some hamstring discomfort last month.
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“He looked really sharp,” Boone said. “I thought his stuff was good, command was good. Working on a curveball that he added into the arsenal, I thought it looked really good. I was really encouraged by what I watched for 65 pitches. Another good step for him on his way back.”
Boone said he would expect “probably a couple more” rehab starts before Rodón could rejoin the rotation.
Despite Daikin Park — formerly Minute Maid Park — previously being a house of horrors for the Yankees, particularly in the postseason, they have found it much more enjoyable of late.
Since Sept. 1, 2023, they are now 11-1 in their past 12 games here.
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