New York Yankees are in an uncertain offseason, and Aaron Judge, the Judge and their captain, who is the cornerstone of the team, must make a big decision about his health. Aaron Judge had a record batting average of .331 with which he won the American League batting champion, in addition, he hit 53 home runs in 152 games, but his right elbow injury could have made it difficult for the team to win a new championship which it has not done since 2009.
However, the seven-time All-Star’s postseason performance, where he hit .500/.581/.692 and hit a decisive three-run homer in the divisional series, showed his value. Aaron Judge injured his flexor in July, which put him on the 10-day disabled list. When he returned in August, the New York Yankees only allowed him to play as a designated hitter. His throws were slower than usual when he returned to right field in September. This was a clear sign that he was not fully recovered, and it continued throughout the postseason. Surgery may be necessary to prevent the problem from getting worse.
Serious concern for Aaron Judge’s health
Andy Martino, who writes for SNY about the New York Yankees and Mets, spoke on the YouTube channel Pinstripe Territory, and expressed serious concern about Judge’s reluctance to undergo surgery. “I, for one, am very concerned about Judge,” Martino stated, emphasizing the structural risks. “Anytime you put stress on the structural parts of the elbow, it’s only a matter of time before it fails again.”
Martino detailed Judge’s ambiguous comments after the playoff elimination, noting that the outfielder did not initially think major surgery was necessary. “He made it sound like he was going to go out after they lost in the division series. He didn’t necessarily make it sound like it was going to be major surgery,” Martino explained.
However, when pressed directly, Judge offered little clarity. “We’ll probably do something,” while admitting, “I’m not a doctor.” Meanwhile, Martino’s frustration was evident as he warned of the consequences. “If he doesn’t have the surgery, the Yankees are going to have to deal with this all season, I’m sure, and into the future,” he warned.
When asked directly about surgery after the team’s elimination from the playoffs, Judge was evasive. “We’ll definitely do something about it,” he told reporters. “We’ll do something about it and we’ll get it right.” The injury crisis goes beyond Judge and severely affects the Yankees’ roster.
Not only Aaron Judge, but also Anthony Volpe
The team’s doctor, Chris Ahmad, performed surgery on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, to repair shortstop Anthony Volpe’s torn left labrum. Volpe injured his shoulder in May while diving to make a play against the Tampa Bay Rays. He is now in recovery mode and may not be ready until the start of the 2026 regular season. Volpe hit just .212, but had 19 home runs and a career-high 72 RBIs in 153 games. The Yankees’ offensive core faces unprecedented uncertainty now that both Judge and Volpe are out due to serious health issues.
Devin Williams assesses the future of the Yankees
Relief pitcher Devin Williams assesses Yankees’ future amid bullpen reshuffle. When the offense doesn’t produce as much in the late innings, reliability becomes even more important, meaning management has to make a lot of roster decisions at once. Devin Williams, a reliever, has both good and bad memories of his first season in New York. Williams arrived in Milwaukee with high expectations, but things went very wrong for him in 2025 and he finished with a career-worst 4.79 ERA. However, the 30-year-old showed some toughness. He pitched four scoreless innings in the playoffs and set a career high with 62 innings pitched overall. Despite his struggles, Williams has not ruled out returning to the pinstripes.
“I really enjoyed my experience here,” Williams told MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch. “There’s a lot I like about this city, but it took me a while to adjust.” He emphasized his willingness to continue with the organization, stating that he would “definitely be open” to staying in New York. His improvements toward the end of the season and his performance in the playoffs suggest that the Yankees might reconsider their approach to his role. The Yankees’ bullpen decisions are becoming more difficult because their relief corps is already full. With David Bednar and Camilo Doval still under contract, management needs to decide whether Williams fits well into their long-term plans or whether they should focus their resources on other free agents such as Ryan Helsley and Raisel Iglesias. Time will tell.
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