The New York Yankees were swept by the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALDS and had to watch the Rays celebrate on their field for a second time this season. They managed only five runs over three games and were booed by the New York faithful in Game 3. The Yankees were missing franchise player Aaron Judge, who could only watch as the AL East champs popped champagne all over Yankee Stadium. The Yankees haven’t won a World Series since 2009, and there are more questions than answers right now. The 3-time American League MVP wasn’t afraid to share his thoughts after the loss.
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Judge wants the Yankees front office to go “all in”
Boston Red Sox v New York Yankees | Mike Stobe/GettyImages
Aaron Judge was talking to the media after and said, “We’re the Yankees. I feel like they should go all-in and do what they need to do”
Judge is obviously referring to GM Brian Cashman and owner Hal Steinbrenner. The Yankees had an estimated payroll of $ 310 million for the 2026 season, according to Fangraphs, and that’s the definition of “going all in” for almost any other team in the MLB. The New York Mets ($358 million) and the Los Angeles Dodgers ($410 million) are the only teams that have higher payrolls in baseball.
The 34-year-old was injury-riddled all season and only played in 66 games.
He also said in that presser, “That’s what I do every offseason, get ready to give this team and this city everything I got. I expect them to do the same”.
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Where do the Yankees go from here?
Sep 22, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees injured right fielder Aaron Judge (99) walks through the dugout during the eighth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
How should general manager Brian Cashman approach the offseason? That’s a tricky question because of the impending lockout and uncertain future. Do they bring back Aaron Boone? What kind of big free-agent splash or trade could they make? Those are the questions every Yankee fan is wondering about right now.
The expectations and pressure are always high for the Yankees. It doesn’t matter how much you spend if the pieces don’t work and the players don’t perform. Just ask Mets’ owner Steve Cohen about how well his expensive roster did this season.