TAMPA An 82-80 season in 2023 provided the Yankees a built-in edge for 2024 that got them all the way to the World Series. Now the challenge will be turning their shortcomings in that World Series into fuel that makes for a different ending this October though they have a long way to go to get there. A year ago, off the embarra sment of their 2023 campaign that drove their offseason work and carried over into the season. Aaron Boone talks with the media on Feb. 11, 2025. as Yankees spring training gets set to begin. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post On Tuesday, in a much different position, though the bottom line remained the same: Another year without a championship. And while the Yankees will not just be able to duplicate the edge they came to work with last year, manager Aaron Boone has his sights set on making sure they find another one. Explore More Ive been thinking a lot about this really over the last month. I think you can have a great situation Ryan Rolison Jersey , a great culture, a great closene s, a great profe sionalism about your team, Boone said Tuesday on the eve of the first workout for pitchers and catchers. Sometimes the separator where a team thats good can be great, a team thats great can be a champion is that hunger. That is not a given, even with the best of people and the best of teams. CHECK OUT THE AND There is no question in my mind, last year, that we had that edge. We had a hunger. But we got to work at that every day. We got to fight for that every day. Thats the thing you hold each other accountable. We want to walk into these doors every day with a hunger that can be a difference-maker, especially in a long, tough season. There should be plenty of areas in which the Yankees can find it. Aaron Judge is all smiles during a Yankees workout on Feb. 10, 2025. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post First and foremost, the last time they took the field, they saw the Dodgers celebrate a World Series championship in The Bronx, with a disastrous defensive inning being the final nail in their coffin in Game 5. A handful of Dodgers and their poor play. You dont like hearing that, Boone said. But the reality is we didnt play our best in the series and they won. So they have that right to say whatever. Hopefully were in that position next year and handle things with a little more cla s. Next came an offseason in which the Yankees offered Juan Soto $760 million and still could not bring him back, as their star right fielder turned out to be just a one-year rental who now calls himself a Met. They will have to answer questions about how they can live without him and whether they did enough to survive his absence. Well judge it in the end, right? Boone said. But really proud of the pivot, as people would say, whether its from ownership on down to our front office. And then there is the fact that every year is World Series or bust for the Yankees. Yankees starter Carlos Rodon talks with reporters on Feb. 11, 2025. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post The drought since their last title in 2009 is only getting longer, and their core (led by Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole) is only getting older. So the Yankees have some options for what they want to fuel them. Boone, who is entering the final year of his contract, wants it to come organically rather than forcing something on them. There certainly has to be a tone set at the top, without question, Boone said. But true edge, true hunger comes internally from guys. Youve got to have that drive day in and day out. Now, Im part of setting that tone and hopefully pulling some of that out our coaches as well. Go beyond the box score with the Bombers Sign up for Inside the Yankees by Greg Joyce, exclusively on Sports+. Thank you By clicking above you agree to the and . Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! Boone has been encouraged by what he has seen so far at the player development complex, where a crowd of regulars have been working out before camp. On Wednesday, the journey will begin in earnest for pitchers and catchers before the first full-squad workout on Monday. We have high hopes and big dreams, rightfully so, Boone said. Were going to go to battle here with a talented group, capable of a lot of things. But right now, thats what it is. We have a chance to be a really good club, which is usually the case year in and year out when you get to put on this uniform. But now its on us to go start doing the work. Sean Bouchard Jersey