Aaron JudgeWith his tremendous performance in the postseason, it was easy to forget that he had been dealing with a right elbow strain since July. The slugger had multiple hits in all but one game in the first two rounds of the playoffs. Judge delivered a defining postseason moment in Game 3 against Toronto, hitting a game-tying home run Louis Varland.
As the Yankees enter the offseason, Judge was asked about the plan for his ailing elbow. “We’re definitely going to do something about it and get it Right,” Judge told reporters, including Chris Kirschner of The Athletic. When asked specifically about the surgery, Judge remained noncommittal. “I’m not a doctor. Don’t know.”
The flexor strain forced Judge onto the IL in late July. It was a minimal stint on the IL, but upon his return he was unable to take the field. Judge spent all of August at DH. He returned to his familiar home in right field on September 5. Judge bounced between right field and DH for the final month of the season. In the play-offs he played exclusively in the field, with Giancarlo Stanton manning the DH spot in all seven games.
Judge’s initial tests showed no damage to the ulnar collateral ligaments. If he were to go that route, his recovery from surgery to address the flexor strain wouldn’t take as long as it would with a more serious elbow injury like a UCL tear.
Anthony Volpe was also tight-lipped about offseason surgery for his shoulder injury. “I expected to play another month and then reassess. So nothing [decided] …we’re going to find out,Volpe told reporters, among others Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.
Volpe partially tore the labrum in his shoulder in May. He didn’t go on the IL with the injury, but his performance suffered. Volpe dropped a solid .237/.328/.456 through April. His numbers dropped to .205/.255/.374 over the final five months of the season. Volpe got off to a strong start in the postseason, going 4-for-11 with a home run in the Wild Card round against Boston. He collapsed in the ALDS, recording just one hit in 15 at-bats. Volpe struck out 11 times in the four games against Toronto.
Depending on the severity of the tear, Volpe could opt for surgery and still be ready for the 2026 season. Shohei Ohtani tore the labrum in his non-throwing shoulder during the 2024 World Series. He was back in time for spring training this year.
Although Volpe never ended up on the IL with the shoulder issue, he did miss time in mid-September after receiving a cortisone shot. Mid-season acquisition Jose Caballero started six consecutive games at short stop from September 10 to 15. Caballero retreated to a bench role when Volpe was deemed healthy, but he endeared himself to Yankees fans with a walk-off single to earn a postseason bid in the final week of the season. Caballero is under team control until 2029 and could figure into New York’s middle infield plans depending on Volpe’s health.
Whatever Judge and Volpe decide on the operations front, they will definitely be back with the team next season. The same cannot be said Cody Bellingerwho is faced with his own decision. Bellinger can opt out of the final year of his current contract with the Yankees. He would leave $25 million on the table in pursuit of a longer, potentially more lucrative deal in free agency.
Hoch passed by Bellinger’s comments on the upcoming opt-out decision. As is the theme with these Yankees, Bellinger didn’t say much. “Obviously things to discuss with family and the agent and the business side of it all. But tonight I’m going to take it all in and just be part of the group one more time.”
Bellinger signed his current three-year, $80 million contract with the Cubs ahead of the 2024 season. He could have opted out of the deal last offseason, but he declined. Bellinger was then dealt to the Yankees. He hit 29 home runs in his first year in pinstripes, his most since his 2019 NL MVP season. Bellinger also stayed healthy and topped the 600 plate appearance mark for the third time in his career. He is widely expected to opt out in the final year of his contract.
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