“I don’t want to be a distraction for my team. I’ll let you know at the end of this year,” Baker replied.

Owner Jim Crane offered Click a lukewarm vote of confidence during a three-minute interview session with a host of Houston-based media during pregame batting practice at Yankee Stadium.

“James is fine,” Crane said. “We have to finish this season. He did a good job.

Click declined to comment on his future.

Pressed to know more about the future of Click and Baker, Crane replied “I already answered that question.” On Friday, Crane told the New York Post in a text message, “I will make a decision after the end of the season on both contracts. That hasn’t changed.

Despite making playoff appearances in each of his three seasons and a 106-win campaign this year, Click’s future in the organization is shaky at best. Philosophical differences between Click and Baker — a manager he did not hire — existed throughout his tenure, according to multiple people in the organization.

Differences in approach between Crane and Click also surfaced, but it’s unclear what or how this precipitated. Crane received just two questions about Click and Baker on Saturday before being peppered with applause-seeking statements about the players on his team.

Baker, 73, signed a one-year contract last November after leading Houston to less than two World Series championship wins. In August, Baker said he would like to lead the team next season, reiterating one of his most-repeated phrases since taking over in February 2020.

“Yeah, I’d love to come back,” Baker said in August. “I would like to win (the World Series) this year and next year too. I’ve always said if I win one, I win two, so you have to win one first to win one. of them.

Baker seemed much less certain on Saturday when asked about his future.

“I mean, my future is now,” Baker said. “My future is today. I’m not really worried about my future, because I’m just happy, after having cancer and a stroke, I’m just happy to be here today and see the sun rise every day.