ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The New York Yankees spent most of the 2025 season chasing the AL champion Blue Jays. From a summer sweep to a postseason gut punch, Toronto became the measuring stick the Yankees couldn’t clear.

Aaron Boone was asked how his club closes that gap going into 2026.

“Playing better against them is the real simple answer,” the New York manager said Monday at baseball's winter meetings. “They kicked our butt. … That ended up really hurting us.”

Still, Boone pointed out the Yankees had the same regular-season record as their AL East rivals, 94-68.

“I mean, we ended with identical records last year. I don’t want to discount that they kicked our (rear ends) last year — don’t take it out of context. I would say the gap is small,” Boone said. “We had the exact same record. B

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