Yankees star Aaron Judge has been slowed a bit by some abdominal discomfort recently, with manager Aaron Boone telling reporters yesterday that the 2022 AL MVP is “mid-spring banged up” while downplaying concerns of a more serious injury. Judge revealed this morning that he underwent an MRI on his abdominal region yesterday to ascertain that there was no significant injury at play (X link via Bryan Hoch of MLB.com). That imaging came back clean. Judge says he won’t swing a bat until later this week but is hopeful he’ll be in the Opening Day lineup.
On the one hand, the fact that Judge has avoided any kind of serious injury is an obvious cause for relief. On the other, it’s hardly ideal that the season hasn’t even begun and he’s less than 100 percent. Judge specified that the discomfort he’s felt has been in the middle of his abdominal muscles — not his oblique region. That’s particularly notable given that Judge has had a pair of oblique strains in the past, including a Grade 2 strain in 2019 that cost him two months of the season.
“I think just from swinging from November all the way until now, every single day, it put some wear and tear on it,” said Judge (via Hoch). “Especially coming back after a [right] toe injury when your mechanics are a little messed up and you’re just working on some things.”
Judge, 32 in April, was once again excellent in 2023 — though a hip strain in late April cost him 10 days, while the sprained toe he referenced wound up shelving him for more than a month. In all, he played in 106 games — his fewest in a 162-game season since 2019 — and posting a brilliant .267/.406/.613 slash with 37 home runs in just 458 trips to the plate.
The Yankees are already awaiting MRI results on ace and reigning Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole. Coupling that with even minor concern about the team’s best all-around player makes for an uncomfortable few days for the club and its fans. The Yankees indicated yesterday that Cole is expected to receive multiple opinions on his MRI results. An announcement today is not necessarily a given. SNY’s Andy Martino wrote yesterday that club officials have characterized the Cole MRI as “precautionary” and downplayed concern over a potential long-term injury. Time will tell whether that proves to be the case.
In the wake of the Cole news, there’s been a renewed focus on the Yankees’ rotation depth and ample speculation on contingency plans. The remaining pair of high-profile Scott Boras clients — Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery — have been at the forefront of that speculation. Martino reported in his piece that the Yankees haven’t yet circled back to Snell since concerns about Cole arose. Joel Sherman of the New York Post throws some cold water on the idea of the Yankees pivoting to either left-hander.
The luxury tax concerns for the Yankees have been highlighted at length by now. As a reminder, they’re a third-time payor who’s in the fourth and final tier of penalization. Any further additions to the payroll will be taxed at a 110% rate (based on the contract’s AAV) on top of the player’s salary. In the case of Snell, he’d also require forfeiting the team’s second-highest draft pick and surrendering $1MM of pool space in next year’s international free agent bonus pool, because Snell rejected a qualifying offer from the Padres.
Perhaps in part because of that, Sherman reports that the Yankees were more interested in Montgomery earlier in the offseason than in Snell — despite making a reported offer to the latter. The Yankees, per Sherman, “could not get a strong engagement” from Montgomery at the time, however. That lines up with some late-February reporting from The Athletic’s Jim Bowden, wherein he wrote that Montgomery’s hope had been for a return to the Rangers and that it was “believed” he did not “prefer” a Yankees reunion. With Montgomery still lingering on the market and the Rangers seemingly disinclined to spend further, none of that should expressly rule out an eventual match between Montgomery and the Yankees.
Sherman suggests that the likeliest course of action for the Yankees is to stand pat regardless of the news on Cole, though he opines that if they do make a move, they’re likelier to meet the White Sox’ asking price for right-hander Dylan Cease than they are to sign Snell or Montgomery. Cease is making $8MM this season and is controlled through 2025 via arbitration. He’d come with an $8.8MM luxury hit, but that’s a pittance relative to the tax hits it’d take to sign Montgomery or Snell for an AAV of $25-30MM — if not more. Prior reporting has indicated that the ChiSox were insistent on the inclusion of top outfield prospect Spencer Jones in talks regarding Cease, while the Yankees have been loath to consider moving him in any deal.
Yankee’s IL bout to be more stacked than some teams active roster
Totally agree Big Foot but in the Yankees case, it will only be STAR players. When does Soto and Rizzo make the list?
Hahahah they don’t. But NyY is in big trouble. As predicted, unfortunately.
Dodgers have an entire pitching staff of All=Stars on the IL in Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler, Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin. Plus, Shohei Ohtani the pitcher is out for the entire year recovering from TJ surgery.
Uncharted Yankee hubris: our IL is better than yours. Thanks, I needed that this morning.
Yankees baseball is just getting started.
That’s the A’s whole organization payroll missing opening day lolz. Coming from an A’s fan here. Andujar back to the Yankees for a hefty fee before opening day???? He’s had a lively little spring so far
That old potbellied batting guru, Teacherman has screwed up Judge’s core.
The Yankees and Boone sure like to mislead when it comes to injuries. Cole has probably already had TJS and will update us next week.
Cole’s agent is Boras, so he’ll have any news as fast as Cashman.
“Cole’s agent is Boras”…That could be a good thing, since Dr. Boras always certifies his clients to be “fully healthy”, the same way he did for Kumar Rocker, Carlos Correa and numerous others later found to have significant injuries.
“mid-spring banged up”
I ran 14 miles on Saturday and I feel fine. But those tackling drills do take a toll on the body.
Good lord.
Judge has 14 ABs this spring, cut him some slack. He must be exhausted.
Yankees probably need to bite the bullet and meet the White Sox demands regarding Jones. With Dominguez coming back, Judge already locked up long term and likely going big for Soto the outfield is set. Even if they don’t resign Soto, there are other outfield options available.
I am biased as a White Sox fan, but getting Cease would be much cheaper than getting an overpriced Snell or Monty. If I were Chris Getz, I’d ask for Jasson Dominguez as a starting point for a trade package.
You can see what that would look like as SD fans watch James Wood ascend in WSH.
I could get reluctantly get on board with Jones. Dominguez is a hard no.
No Dominguez is disappointing but Spencer Jones would have to be on the table. Cease has two years of control left, and while his 2023 was middling, he’s going to perform better with a winning team like the Yankees. Doing my best to sell Cease on the Yankees!
I wouldn’t trade Dominguez straight up for Cease bc the Yankees need to ditch their silly policy of not offering extensions to controlled young players. They can’t live above the fourth CBT tier forever. They’ll be in a better position eating dead money for deals like Aaron Hicks than being forced to keep guys like Stanton on the roster.
The asking price for Cease has gone up. It’s gonna take Spencer Jones, Roderick Arias, Chase Hampton and Henry LaLane. They can keep Dominguez.
As a Sox fan – that’s one of the first trades I’ve seen proposed that I’d definitely take. It’s an overpay for the Yankees, but it would most likely have to be right now.
Not a Yankee or White Sox fan, but that’s too much for two seasons of Cease
Cease isnt an ace, he’s good number 2, at best could be a 1a. So no way you’d trade Jasson for him. Jones I can get on board with I guess.
Why? Cease is already 28 and has had one excellent year and one very good year. There’s no need to pay a prospect premium for him when you can get him for just money after next year anyway.
LOL – so you think that if Cole is gone for the season, THIS SEASON, the Yankees wouldn’t make a trade because they could get Cease ‘for just money’ in 2026? I’m not saying they should trade for Cease, but it’s a bizarre logical string there.
The only reason they would trade for Cease is because they have a whole this year, not in ’26.
To be clear, I was replying to the original poster claiming the Yankees must now make Spencer Jones available for a 28-year old pitcher that would slot in as a number 4 starter on a contending club. Overpaying for Cease now would be silly; he’s not of a caliber to replace Cole and seeing him this year may give a better indication of his value. .Maybe I’m a realist but I see the 24 Yankees as a 90-92 win team if things go well.
First, I hate that I spelled hole WHOLE. ugh. Anyway – final thing I’ll say is that Cease is not consistently as good as Cole, of course. But – he was BETTER than Cole just two years ago. Cole gave up 33 HRs and Cease has never given up more than 20 in a season.
Again – Cole is better, but it’s within the realm of possibility (1 year removed) that Cease could put up similar numbers. With the Yankees cap situation, they have to consider doing it.
Yes Joe, the outfield is set but who the heck is going to pitch?
The mound crowd hasn’t impressed anyone this spring.
Sign Trevor bauer.
Corey and Trevor are stupid AF
Nah
At what point do you people get it through your heads that nobody is signing Trevor Bauer??
These people don’t even want Bauer signed because they think he’ll actually contribute. They want him signed as an FU to MLB and Bauer’s accusers. It’s all very childish.
“These people don’t even”…Personally I would let him play because he was almost certainly set up. That being said, he did put himself in a very vulnerable, compromised position and I’m saving my sympathy for disabled veterans, little old ladies and children living in poverty. I cannot get that worked up over a pitcher with questionable behavior towards women and a multi million dollar ank account.
I saw videos of his last outing vs Dodgers MiLB players. His thought process of asking the fans to call his pitches was pretty self-serving and shows up everyone playing on the field.
Ridiculous thought process. Trevor. You need to be under the radar. The message is clear. Disappearing is your last chance.
Dude needs an advisor.
I’m not so sure they’re people. I have a sneaking suspicion they’re Russian troll bots.
*Boston troll bots
@unpaid: yeah they’re really pounding down his door to get his signature on a contract!
Let me be clear: nobody is signing him for any sum. I don’t care what team we’re talking about, nobody wants him. He claims to be willing to take the minimum, do you think for a second there aren’t teams that could use a pitcher like him and yet (once again) NOBODY WANTS HIM?? Get lost with your *Boston troll* garbage
Then again, some people still believe that the earth is flat. 🙂
Sounds like Cole is hurt. I really hope I’m wrong but an MRI on an elbow with the mileage Cole has on it, it might be TJS. Just a suspicion. Again hope I’m wrong.
We will likely not be seeing Cole on the mound until sometime mid to late 2025.
Going to be interesting to hear from the ‘mlb has parity’ and ‘financial playing field’ apologists. IF Cole is hurt, the Yankees will pay Boras price for Snell. Whereas VERY few teams can make such moves.
Every trusted source is saying they’re not going after Snell.
At this point, the Yankees can’t add another long-term salary. They are looking at 3 or 4 guys constantly on the IL in a couple of years. This team is in trouble.
Whats the Yankee fan mantra, weve been hearing for the last couple of years? “Judge is healthy, except for that one . . .”
Lol!
Judge hurt too? Yanks in trouble
Ah, the toe injury lead to the back injury. Man, baseball used to have men playing the sport. Guys didn’t take a day off for seasons at a time. Now, these prima donnas take off when they sneeze.
As noted signing Snell would cost Yankees an extra 110% luxury tax, the loss of a 2nd round pick and 1M in international bonus pool money. Not noted, they would also lose their 5th round pick as well – unless this changed recently.
Yankee lost 2nd and 5th rounders for signing Cole and Rodon.
I’m not saying they don’t exist somewhere out there, but I’ve never met anyone that believes MLB has parity.
Even if Cole is down for the year I don’t see Cashman doing anything rash. George Steinbrenner has passed so he won’t have an owner call him up demanding a huge trade (Cease) or high dollar FA signing (Snell, Montgomery).
The article alludes to the MRI being “precautionary”. Perhaps it’s Cole’s prudence which has kept on the mound for so long without major injury.
@Chris from NJ
Every MRI is precautionary. I see what you mean but if Cole was getting an MRI because it’s his routine or for just peace of mind I don’t think it would be made public. I wish Cole the best. Precautionary MRI’s on the pitching elbow of a 30 plus year old pitcher who consistently takes the ball 30 times a year and gives you 200 innings are usually more then precautionary is all I’m saying.
“Trevor is waiting.”
Or so I’ve read here.
I know he’s muted me, but “Beff Jagwell”‘s comment are why Astros fans can be the most unbearable at times.
Finally good news for the Redsox!
Bottom line is no Cole no playoffs for the Yankees, which would make the massive haul of pitching they gave away for one year of Soto look even worse in retrospect. Signing Snell would at least keep their chances alive, regardless of the tax hit
I think right now with the Yankees present situation that Boras will be going away from the 3-year, opt-out laden, high AAV contract for either pitcher and start going back to the 6-7 year deal. He smells blood in the water and he will squeeze every cent out of them if he can.
Not necessarily. A big year for either coupled with a worse free agent class next winter and the hope that RSN debacles will be resolved could get them better deals than what they are seeking now
Training staff for the Yankees has to be stressful job about now.
Which team will bend the knee to Boras?
Bend the knee Lord Cashman, bend the knee and with one of my dragons (Snell, Monty) you will rule the AL East,., the season is long and is full of terrors.
A baseline for any acquisition is that nobody will replace the value/numbers that Cole provided. Cease isn’t even close. Adding Cease to a healthy Cole led rotation, oh yeah. Adding Cease as the savior replacement to a Cole-less rotation, waste of prospect capital. IMO, if desparate to do anything right now hit the bargain bin FA pool & re-evaluate at the deadline.
Yankees have reportedly circled back on Cease and have even made an offer.
Jones, Pereira, Rortvedt & Marinaccio that will make it and if they want to depart with Moncada the yanks can add Peraza. Closed deal!
I see either a trade with enough prospects involved the other team pays most of the salary. Either that or plugging some rookies in. Yankees are in far too deep with luxury tax. I cannot see them punting though after going all in on Soto. Most likely a trade involving high prospects.
Wrong Spencer Jones linked.
Dude Spencer Jones was nasty at SLCC tho
But, but the Chisox pays half of Moncada’s paycheck. They can take Stanton too!
Everything is worse than what they’ve said, right? They hide info and it comes out later, then they pretend like they weren’t lying. Just not interested in this bs.
When is somebody in the Yankee organization going to question the teams strength and conditioning programs? I cannot recall a single season in quite a number of years where they have not lost major players to hamstrings issues, core muscle problems, pitching arm strains, etc. I cannot believe that the team is just “unlucky.” For a guy who lost months of the last season it seems a little overaggressive to have him swinging a bat throughout the winter. Any athlete’s body needs to recover.
The Yankees “dynasty” with Hall of Famers Jeter and Mo was fueled by a heavy sprinkling of steroid users who were juggernauts. Huge contracts were doled out to the Rockets, Giambinos, Aroids, and countless other despicabe characters (check their arrest record – it’s unrivaled). They didn’t need no stinking strength and conditioning programs, that was all taken care of by the shady characters who gladly supplied baseball players with everything they needed, while the ever watchful MLB looked the other way. Well, thanks to heavily punishing a bunch of no names or a few big names well past their prime years, baseball has “fixed” the problem. So I kind of think now that no one knows how to build a healthy baseball player any more. They rely on these massively too heavy behemoths to play a game that used to be mastered by athletic lean fit guys like the aforementioned Jeter and Mo. I can’t imagine what the Yankees would try to do to Jeter and Mo today. Make sure they weighed 30 more pounds? (Of course it would be “lean body mass” or some bs buzzword.) So here we are, watching MLBTR for not only trade rumors but endless injury news. How fun.
That’s a true captain right there!
A real competitive leader just like Derek Jeter!
Who else better to fill Jeter’s shoes than am injury prone behemoth who plays half the season and tested free agency?
Jeter threatened to be a Met as a bargaining chip after Cashman pissed him off. It’s an entertainment business. Relax
That makes it even worse. They’re not even professional athletes the Yankees. I’m a die hard Yankee fan and they’re just a pathetic team
Being a die hard fan is not cool. Enjoy baseball, but you should not be taking it this personally…
You’re right but it’s still passion lol
Judge….abdomen…sports hernia.
Not something you’d want under any circumstances, but especially if you’re expected to play CF regularly.
Aaron Judge stats of .267/.406/.613 is “brilliant”?
Yes.
What is he doing taking swings every day? You need rest days, and to vary your workouts in the offseason. To put Judge in CF is beyond ludicrous. He can’t stay healthy. He’s not built to last at that size. As a non Yankee fan, pass the popcorn, they can’t get out of their own way again.
Yankees have zero trust to report injuries honestly. In two weeks we’ll find out Judge is on the IL 60 and Cole needs Tommy John.
Why is judge swinging every day from November till now? Thought he was married
wonder if there’s any solid reliable world series winning pitchers out there still unsigned that could be a good fit for the yankees