Cashman says Boone ‘remarkable’ as rook

A postseason that ended with Aaron Boone roundly criticized for the way he handled the Yankees’ final two games of the playoffs has done nothing to diminish Brian Cashman’s view of the manager he hired to replace Joe Girardi.

“I thought he did a great job,’’ the general manager said of the rookie manager in an appearance Wednesday with Mike Francesa on WFAN. “He’s a special person. Dropping him into the middle of this environment and doing the job he did was remarkable, so I would give him A’s across the board.”

Others would likely grade Boone more harshly, given the fact he conceded he waited too long to pull Luis Severino in a Game 3 loss to the Red Sox in the ALDS and was also judged harshly by many for not taking CC Sa- bathia out earlier in a seasonending loss the next night in The Bronx.

“I know any manager we’ve had — whether it’s in the postseason or not — is gonna be subjected to secondguessing,’’ Cashman said. “That comes with the job and the territory, especially when you don’t win. But I feel like, given the circumstances, we were very lucky to run into him. I [worked] with [Joe] Torre for 10 years, Girardi for 10 years, I’m hoping I’ll be here for 10 [more] years, but I’m hoping he has a good 10year run for the Yankees.’’

The next step to making sure that happens begins Monday, when the Yankees begin three days of offseason pro scouting meetings.

At the top of the list for discussion will be starting pitching, which faltered in the playoffs — and made Boone’s job more difficult.

“We’re excited about add- ing to our rotation,’’ Cashman said. “It’s going to be a focal point for us.”

That could include re-signing J.A. Happ, who pitched well during the regular season after being acquired from Toronto prior to the trade deadline.

Cashman said Happ “is wired the right way” and expressed a hope he would remain in The Bronx.

Their free-agent pursuits likely also will include another lefty, Arizona’s Patrick Corbin.

As for the lineup, Cashman wouldn’t touch the possibility of going after Manny Machado.

Asked by Michael Kay on ESPN Radio if he would sign someone who “says, ‘I just don’t hustle to first base?’ ” Cashman passed, noting MLB rules that prohibit teams from talking about players who are with other teams