Aaron Judge and the Yankees: What comes after another disappointment?

Aaron Judge and the Yankees: An Incomplete Legacy

New York – Despite connecting one of the most important home runs of his career, Aaron Judge, with a display of power that few can match, finds himself once again reflecting on a season without the coveted World Series title. This is the eighth time the Yankees, with Judge at the center of their offense, have reached the postseason, and on all eight occasions, disappointment has been the predominant feeling.

“It’s what you play for,” Judge declared after the team’s loss in Game 4 of the American League Division Series. “You play to win. And when you don’t win, it’s not a good year.”

Aaron Judge

Individually, 2025 was Judge’s best year. He led the Major Leagues with a batting average of .331, surpassing his competitors by 20 points, and hit 53 home runs with an OPS of 1.144. His postseason performance was also outstanding, with a .500 average and a 1.273 OPS in seven games, plus seven RBIs and multiple hits in almost every game. This year, Judge cemented his place among Yankees legends, surpassing figures like Yogi Berra and Joe DiMaggio on the franchise’s home run list. He became the fourth player with four seasons of 50+ home runs and set an American League record with 36 intentional walks. Despite playing with an elbow injury, his impact was undeniable. However, the World Series title, the achievement that defines Yankees legends, still eludes the 6’7″ right fielder.

“They’ll probably make him a statue,” commented Carlos Rodón, Yankees’ left-handed pitcher. “And I feel that, before it all ends, for him, it would be right to win at least one World Series. I think his legacy would be well defined if he won one here.”

Carlos Rodón

It’s easy to take Judge’s greatness for granted. But time doesn’t stand still, and the pressure is on the Yankees not to waste their star’s peak years. Aaron Boone, the team’s manager, expressed his confidence in breaking the drought, highlighting the difficulty of winning the World Series, a goal he has pursued throughout his life. On April 26th, Judge will turn 34 years old. The Yankees will play against the Astros in Houston that day. The team’s future is uncertain, with several players entering free agency and possible changes in the squad. Judge’s situation is also unclear, as he did not rule out the possibility of undergoing elbow surgery. The most likely option is rehabilitation, but time is of the essence. The Yankees have reached the postseason in eight of Judge’s nine full seasons. The only exception was in 2023, when he was out with an injury. The team’s strategy will focus on offseason transactions to have another chance to break the 16-year drought without a championship. Boone is expected to remain in command, after signing a contract extension until 2027. The question is what to expect from the rest of the team.

Roster Analysis for 2026

Starting Rotation: The team doesn’t need major changes. Gerrit Cole is expected to return from his Tommy John surgery in the first half of the season. The projected opening day rotation, without him, looks solid: Max Fried, Rodón, Cam Schlittler, Luis Gil, and Will Warren. Clarke Schmidt could join the group at the end of the season.Bullpen: It’s another story. Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, and Jonathan Loáisiga will be free agents. The core of the bullpen is in place with David Bednar as closer, Camilo Doval in a setup role, and Fernando Cruz as an effective reliever, but the group, which struggled in 2025, could change in 2026.Gardens: Judge will remain in right field if he is ready for the start of the season. In other positions, uncertainty prevails. Cody Bellinger, who became the starting left fielder, will opt out of his contract, and Trent Grisham will be a free agent. Jasson Domínguez and Spencer Jones could be internal options.Infield: Anthony Volpe has not met expectations. Although his slugging improved, his performance in other categories declined. José Caballero and George Lombard are internal options.Catchers: Austin Wells underperformed in 2025. The team could look for a right-handed catcher to alternate with Wells. J.T. Realmuto is an option in free agency.

After another elimination in October, Yankees captain Aaron Judge turns 34 in April.The Yankees, with their history of success, will seek a championship. Judge, under contract until 2031, has few years of high performance ahead. The pressure is on the team to win the championship and prevent Judge from being remembered as a legend without a title. “Every year is different,” said Judge, “but I think the feeling is the same if you don’t win.”