Aaron Boone and the New York Yankees agreed Thursday to a two-year contract extension through the 2027 season.

Boone is entering his eighth season as manager. The team had exercised his 2025 option in November.

“No other place I want to be. No other team, organization, group of people that I want to be doing this with,” Boone said. “And to get to do it in New York in front of passionate New York Yankee fans, this is the end result that I certainly wanted and glad it was able to work out.”

Boone has led the Yankees to a 603-429 record, three AL East titles and one pennant. New York reached the World Series last year for the first time since 2009, losing to the Dodgers in five games.

Boone became the third Yankees manager to lead the team to the postseason in six of his first seven years after Casey Stengel and Joe Torre but hasn’t delivered a title.

deal with ESPN to end after 2025

ESPN’s coverage of Major League Baseball games — at least in its current form — will conclude at the end of the 2025 season.

ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro informed baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred that the network was opting out of the final three years of its contract, two people told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss financial matters.

There was a March 1 deadline for MLB and ESPN to opt out of the final three years of their contract. The sides agreed to a seven-year deal in 2021 that averaged $550 million per season.

ESPN has carried MLB games since 1990, but the network cut back its coverage in the current contract to 30 regular-season games — mostly on Sunday night — and the Wild Card postseason series. ESPN also had the Home Run Derby and 10 spring training games.

ESPN is still open to pursuing a deal with a reduced rights fee after seeing deals struck with Apple and Roku.

ABS SYSTEM TESTED

Chicago Cubs pitcher Cody Poteet believed the 95 mph fastball he delivered to Dodgers slugger Max Muncy was in the strike zone.

Plate umpire Tony Randazzo disagreed and called it a ball. Instead of arguing, Poteet simply patted the top of his cap, signifying he wanted to challenge the call.

After a few seconds, the verdict was ready on the video board in right-center field. Poteet was correct — the pitch was a strike, just catching the bottom of the zone.

The first test of the Automated Ball-Strike System went off without a hitch, with Randazzo quickly reversing the call. Instead of a 1-1 count for Muncy, the batter was in an 0-2 hole and struck out three pitches later.

also

The Pittsburgh Pirates agreed to terms with veteran left-hander Andrew Heaney on a one-year deal. ... The Chicago Cubs finalized their $6 million, one-year contract with Justin Turner. ... The Miami Marlins claimed right-handed reliever Seth Martinez off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks. ... Juan Soto got his desired No. 22 jersey with the New York Mets. In exchange, third baseman Brett Baty, who wore that number the past three seasons, got a brand new SUV.