It’s another season without a World Series championship for Aaron Judge.
The Yankees captain, who most certainly will have his No. 99 retired soon after he calls it quits, will have to wait at least another year for his first chance to win gold. This postseason was especially hard for Judge, who had to sit out both the Wild Card Series and ALDS due to a calf injury. He was in the dugout as the Yankees offense mustered just five runs while being swept by the Rays at home in Game 3 of the ALDS.
“It’s always tough,” Judge said after the loss. “Anytime you’re not the last team standing, and lose at home like that, three straight games, it’s definitely difficult. It hurts. You want to be out there, all the rehab, all the work, coming here early, staying late. Any time you’re banged up, you’re trying to get back out there as soon as you can. Hurts not getting a chance to be out there and battling.”
Despite not being in the lineup, Judge said he liked the 2026 Yankees’ chances in the postseason, as he’s said in years past. But this year, from the pitching staff anchored by likely Cy Young winner Cam Schlittler and rounded out by veterans Gerrit Cole, Max Fried and Carlos Rodon, to young hitters Spencer Jones and George Lombard Jr. stepping up, the three-time MVP felt there was enough in the clubhouse to go far.
So, why can’t the Yankees get over the hump? While Judge didn’t give specifics, he said he and his teammates were not satisfied with this result.
Then Judge was asked directly about his thoughts on what he thinks the response from GM Brian Cashman and owner Hal Steinbrenner should be following another postseason loss, and the captain answered honestly.
“We’re the Yankees. I feel like they should go all-in and do what they need to do,” Judge said. “If we’ve got holes, if it’s finding certain players or personnel, whatever we need, you got to go out there and get it. That’s why I signed back here to play with the Yankees is to fight for a championship every single year and go all-in. That’s what I do every offseason, is get ready to give this team and this city everything I got. And I expect them to do the same.”
When he was asked if he felt they went “all-in,” Judge said he will leave the moves to the front office and will control what he can control. But when a follow-up asked if he felt the front office went “all-in enough,” Judge took a beat before responding.
“It’s tough to say. I want to trade for everybody, sign everybody every single year, but I know that’s not realistic,” he said. “They give us a winning team every single year, but that’s not good enough here in New York. We’re the Yankees. You’ve got to go out there and expect championships and go all-in every year. I’m excited to see what they do.”
Aaron Judge was asked if he thinks the Yankees’ front office has gone all-in enough:
“It’s tough to say. I want to trade for everybody, sign everybody every single year, but I know that’s not realistic. They give us a winning team every single year, but that’s not good enough here in New York. We’re the Yankees. You’ve got to go out there and expect championships and go all-in every year. I’m excited to see what they do.”
— SNY Yankees (@snyyankees) October 8, 2026