Aaron Judge is hurt, sitting on the injured list, and watching the Yankees grind through a season that could go either way. So when someone asked him what the team should do at the trade deadline, his answer basically was: don’t ask me.
“That’s way above my pay grade,” Judge said, via Chris Kirschner of The Athletic. “We got a good team where we’re at. That’s what you can do as a player. You’ve got to put yourself and your team in the best position to give the front office the ability to go out there and get the final pieces. Looking forward to seeing what happens.”
Classic veteran thing to say. Deflect, trust the front office, don’t make headlines. But here’s what’s actually going on: the Yankees are 59-46, sitting three games behind the Rays in the AL East and holding a wild-card spot. They just got smoked 11-4 by the Phillies on Sunday night, but that’s one loss in a season full of them.
And honestly? The fact that they’re still in this thing without Judge — arguably the best hitter in baseball — is kind of wild. He’s been out since early June with a toe injury. The team hasn’t set a return date. But when he comes back, it’s basically like making a trade without giving up a prospect.
What the Yankees might actually do at the deadline
Nobody’s saying the Yankees are perfect. They’ve got holes. The most obvious one is catcher — they’ve been rotating guys behind the plate and none of them have grabbed the job. A mid-tier upgrade there would help. The bullpen could also use another arm, especially with some of the relievers looking worn down.
But are they going to make a huge swing? Hard to say. The lineup is already loaded when healthy. Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Anthony Rizzo, Gleyber Torres — that’s a lot of firepower. Pitching has been decent enough. The front office might be more inclined to add a piece or two and see what happens rather than go all-in on a blockbuster.
One thing worth watching: the Yankees have been linked to pretty much every catcher who might be available, according to reports. The team hasn’t confirmed anything. That’s how it always works this time of year.
Judge’s timeline is the real wild card here. If he’s back by mid-August, the Yankees could make a real run. If he’s out longer, the front office might think twice about emptying the farm system for a rental. Either way, Judge made it clear he’s not the guy making those calls. He’s just waiting to get healthy and see what the team looks like when he gets back.
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