Does Aaron Judge regret re-signing with Yankees?

All-Star slugger Aaron Judge insists he has no regrets about re-signing with the New York Yankees last offseason even though he and the Bronx Bombers will be spectators when the playoffs begin this time around. 

"I know that I made the right decision," Judge told Randy Miller of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. "I knew it wasn’t going to be all sunshine and rainbows and everybody’s going to ride into the sunset and get us back to the glory days. I knew there was going to be a lot of things that needed to be worked out, that there was going to be some tough times, some tough seasons. I know that this won’t be our only tough season."

Judge and the Yankees suffered an embarrassing four-game sweep in the 2022 American League Championship Series at the hands of the Houston Astros before he explored free agency and reportedly considered signing with both the San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres. It was reported in October that a "toxic" fan culture and an alleged "souring relationship between the Yankees and their fans" could cause Judge to embrace a fresh start elsewhere, but Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner ultimately held onto the 2022 AL Most Valuable Player via a nine-year, $360M deal.

The 2023 Yankees were 35-25 when Judge first began missing games because of a torn ligament in his big right toe he suffered on June 3. New York sat at 54-48 when he returned to the lineup in late July but failed to adequately right the ship before the club was eliminated from postseason contention this past weekend. 

"I knew even throughout this season when we hit our lowest points, I was like, 'This is what I signed up for,'" Judge added during his chat with Miller. "I think going through a year like this — the setbacks, injuries, bad season — it’s only going to make the time when we do get it figured out that much better. We’re really going to be enjoying those moments." 

Judge officially became the 16th captain in the history of the Yankees shortly after he put pen to paper on his contract and noted he hopes his role will help the organization "fix things" beginning as soon as next week. 

"...I’m putting fires out," Judge said about serving as captain. "I’m talking to guys that we need to motivate. That part of it hasn’t changed. I think now there’s just the title with it. I like it. Getting a chance to speak with teammates and staff about things they’re feeling, that’s appealing." 

Judge has made it known on multiple occasions he wants manager Aaron Boone to keep his job. Boone guided the franchise to the playoffs each year from 2018 through 2022. It's unknown if Steinbrenner will grant his captain's wish coming off what the owner referred to during an August conversation with Mark Didtler of The Associated Press as an "obviously unacceptable" season.