Aaron Boone met with MLB officials after José Caballero’s deliberate tempo in the batter’s box sparked a delay‑of‑game warning in Sunday’s 8‑3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. Boone said he now has a clear plan for Caballero’s rhythm and that it stays within the rules before the next series.

During the sixth inning, Caballero delayed until eight seconds remained on the pitch clock, prompting umpire Steven Jaschinski to issue a warning and threaten a strike. The crew, including chief John Tumpane, spent over two minutes debating the rule before the game resumed in the postseason context.

Caballero, acquired from the Rays on July 31, hits .258 with six homers and 21 RBIs in 59 games. After the warning, he belted a three‑run homer in the ninth, underscoring his gamesmanship and the Yankees’ willingness to exploit rule nuances and his home‑run tally.

The incident highlights MLB’s ongoing adjustments to the pitch‑clock rule, forcing teams to clarify timing expectations and keeping the league’s pace‑of‑play reforms under scrutiny and the teams’ strategies.