Aaron Judge: After a 'Brutal' Wait, Yankees' Winter Moves Finally Pay Off
New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge admitted the wait was 'brutal' as his team made significant offseason transactions. As the reigning American League Most Valuable Player, Judge expressed his eagerness to see the team sign free agents and strengthen its roster.
During his first media availability of spring training in Tampa, Judge shared his frustration, saying, 'I see a lot of free agents out there. Let's sign these guys right now and start adding more pieces because I've seen other teams around the league get better.'
The Yankees' slow start to the offseason was a stark contrast to their usual spending habits. Center fielder Trent Grisham accepted a qualifying offer last November, leaving the team quiet for a while. At one point, the Yankees were the only team in baseball without a new player.
However, the team's fortunes changed when they traded four prospects for Miami Marlins left-handed pitcher Ryan Weathers. The biggest names they signed were familiar faces from the 2025 roster. Outfield star Cody Bellinger secured a five-year, $162.5 million deal last month, and veteran first baseman Paul Goldschmidt returned on a one-year, $4 million contract.
Judge was pleased with the team's decisions, stating, 'We’re right where we need to be. I love it. People might have opinions about running it back because we didn’t win it all last year and fell short in the Division Series.'
Despite a flexor strain last summer that didn't fully heal, Judge's right elbow is now at full strength. Manager Aaron Boone announced that Judge would play in four or five of the Yankees' first nine Grapefruit League games as he gets back to throwing at game speed.
Judge's concerns after the postseason ended were addressed by team doctors, who assured him he was 'good to go.' He's now ready to prepare for the upcoming season, feeling confident and in top shape.
