Aaron Boone stood in front of the cameras at Fenway Park on Friday and did what he’s been doing for weeks now: explaining exactly where two of his biggest stars are in their rehab processes. The timelines for Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton remain frustratingly vague, but the Yankees manager did offer something concrete.
Judge is still dealing with that rib issue that landed him on the shelf. When will he get re-imaged? Boone wasn’t ready to commit to a date yet. “We’re probably not ready to go down that road yet, with where he’s at,” Boone said. That’s not exactly what Yankees fans want to hear as the calendar flips toward July.
Stanton’s calf strain is a different story, at least in terms of activity. According to Bryan Hoch, Stanton has started what Boone called “low volume” workouts. So he’s doing something, but low volume doesn’t exactly scream imminent return.
What This Means for New York’s Roster
The Yankees are 48-32. That’s the best record in the American League. They have a two-game lead over Tampa Bay in the East. And they’ve done all of that without Judge and Stanton for chunks of time. That’s impressive on its face, but it also raises a question: how much longer can they hold on without those bats?
The trade deadline is going to be fascinating for this team. If the front office thinks Judge and Stanton are coming back in August and will be productive, maybe they stand pat. But if the uncertainty lingers into late July, Brian Cashman might feel pressure to go get another hitter. And probably a bullpen arm or two. Every contender needs bullpen help.
Neither player has a firm return date. The team hasn’t said much beyond “we’ll keep you posted.” That’s the kind of update that makes you think the timelines are still a moving target. The hope is they both contribute before October. But hope and certainty are two different things.
For now, the Yankees have to focus on the game in front of them. Friday night against Boston at Fenway. That’s the immediate concern. The rest of it will sort itself out eventually, or it won’t, and that’s where the trade deadline comes in.
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