The New York Yankees are officially in wait-and-see mode with Aaron Judge, and the wait is going to last a little longer.
Manager Aaron Boone told reporters Tuesday that the slugger is still “a couple weeks” away from getting re-imaged on his injured rib. That means any return to the lineup is still a moving target, and not a close one.
“It’s probably a couple weeks still from reimaging,” Boone said, via MLB.com. “They’ll determine when they feel like he’s doing stuff that [warrants] ‘Alright, let’s go reimage it now.’ We’re not at that point yet.”
Judge hasn’t played since early June. He’s been limited to lower-body work in the weight room and is reportedly feeling better this week, but the team hasn’t cleared him for baseball activities that would trigger that next scan. So for now, it’s all rehab and no timetable.
The Yankees Are Falling Apart Without Him
New York has dropped eight of their last 10 games. They just got swept in a four-game series by the Red Sox, and their offense looked completely lost. That kind of skid is dangerous in a division as tight as the AL East, where the Yankees have already slipped back into second place behind Tampa Bay.
Before the injury, Judge was hitting .248 with 17 homers and 38 RBIs. Those are solid numbers, but the Yankees need his presence in the lineup more than the stat sheet shows. Without him, the middle of the order is soft. Guys are pressing. The pressure is mounting.
They’ve lost five straight as of Tuesday, and now they’re facing the Tigers — a team that’s supposed to be an easy mark. But nothing’s been easy for the Bronx Bombers lately.
Why This Wait Matters
The Yankees had high hopes coming into this season after last year’s disappointing playoff exit against the Blue Jays. Losing Judge for any extended stretch wasn’t part of the plan. Every game they drop now makes the second-half climb steeper. And with Boone saying they’re still not ready to re-image, there’s no guarantee Judge is back before the All-Star break.
The team is 48-36. That’s not a bad record, but it’s trending the wrong way fast. If the slide continues, the front office might have to make some uncomfortable decisions before the trade deadline.
For now, the Yankees wait. Judge waits. And the division keeps getting tighter.
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