Yankees manager Aaron Boone acknowledged this week at the winter meetings that the Blue Jays “kicked our ass” in 2025, which included winning their ALDS matchup, 3-1.
Toronto apparently had some intel that aided its performance in the playoffs.
The Jays “picked up on at least one on-field tell from the Yankees during the ALDS,” Sportsnet reported Thursday.
Sportsnet’s sources didn’t reveal any details about the tell “because the information was sensitive and could impact future games,” per the report.
The Yankees lost eight of the teams’ 13 regular-season matchups in 2025.
Yankees pitcher Max Fried (54) reacts as the Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) scores on a Daulton Varsho double in Game 2 of the ALDS on Oct. 5, 2025. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
After a strong outing against the Tigers on Sept. 11, Yankees phenom Cam Schlittler indicated he was tipping his pitches in his previous start — he gave up four runs in just 1 ⅔ innings against the Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 5.
Two days later, the Yankees were picking up on Max Scherzer tipping his changeup, and Aaron Judge’s signal to Ben Rice helped Rice hit a three-run homer in a 4-3 win.
The Yanks were crushed 10-1 in Game 1 of the ALDS, with starter Luis Gil chased after giving up two solo homers in 2 ⅔ innings.
Luke Weaver later gave up three runs without recording an out, and Paul Blackburn was tagged for four runs.
Max Fried got tattooed in the 13-7 Game 2 defeat, giving up seven runs on eight hits and two walks in three innings.
Will Warren then gave up six runs, including four homers, in 4 ⅔ innings of relief.
Carlos Rodon proceeded to give up six runs in 2 ⅓ innings in Game 3, although the Yankees’ bats awakened and helped them stay alive with a 9-6 win before Toronto took Game 4, 5-2, to win the series.
The Yankees have yet to make any significant moves since Trent Grisham accepted his qualifying offer, while the Blue Jays signed starter Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million contract.