Yankees' Aaron Judge responds to 'running it back' takes, shares major injury update

A repeated criticism of New York Yankees senior vice president and general manager Brian Cashman ahead of the 2026 season was that he was mostly "running it back" with the same team that failed to advance to the American League Championship Series last fall.

While speaking with reporters on Thursday, New York Yankees slugger and team captain Aaron Judge seemed to send a strong message to those who ripped Cashman earlier this year. 

Aaron Judge: Yankees can be "dangerous" in October

"People got on us about running it back, but we had a special, special thing last year," Judge said, per Anthony McCarron of SNY. "I know it didn’t end the way we wanted it to. But to get us all healthy, see some good things from our young guys filling some holes for us, we’ll be right where we need to be. I think our pitching staff has carried the load all year and it’ll continue to carry the load into the postseason. But once you get all our guys helping the offensive side, that’s going to be dangerous." 

Whether or not Cashman did enough to improve the Yankees before the Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline arrived is a topic that will hover over the Bronx Bombers until they play their final game this fall. Meanwhile, the Yankees will open a pivotal four-game home series against the rival Boston Red Sox on Friday night without having Judge in the lineup. 

The Yankees haven't truly been "running it back" this summer, as Judge hasn't played since May 31 due to a stress fracture of the first rib on his right side. 75-58 New York trails only the first-place Tampa Bay Rays (79-54) in the American League East standings, but 73-60 Boston is flirting with leapfrogging the Yankees in the standings and taking over the AL's No. 1 wild-card spot.

Aaron Judge ready to make a major decision related to his return

While speaking with Bryan Hoch of the MLB website and other media members, Judge confirmed on Thursday that he plans to bypass a rehab assignment.

"I didn't rehab in ‘23 when I missed probably the same amount of time," Judge explained. "Why waste at-bats? Why waste anything down in a minor league game? I've been doing this for a while now, and I’ve got a sense of what I need to do on the field and how to manage it." 

David Lennon of Newsday is among those who think Judge will return to play in the Yankees' home game against the New York Mets on the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. 

"I feel like if I tell them I’m ready to go play, I think we’re ready to go play," Judge added during his comments. "I don’t think there’s going to be much of a fight."