Aaron Judge and the Yankees: What’s next after elimination?

Aaron Judge and the Yankees: A Legacy Without a Crown

New York – After another postseason failure, Aaron Judge, the Yankees’ emblematic figure, faces the reflection of a decade without the coveted World Series title. The slugger, known for his impressive home runs, has been part of eight Yankees teams that have reached the postseason, and on each occasion, disappointment has been the constant.

“It’s what you play for,” Judge declared after the Game 4 loss against the Toronto Blue Jays. “You play to win, and when you don’t win, it’s not a good year.”

Aaron Judge

At an individual level, Judge’s season was stellar. He led the Major Leagues with a batting average of .331 and hit 53 home runs, in addition to recording an OPS of 1.144. His performance in the postseason was also notable, with a .500 average and a 1.273 OPS in seven games, solidifying his place among Yankees legends. His achievements include surpassing figures like Yogi Berra and Joe DiMaggio on the franchise’s home run list and becoming the fourth player with four seasons of 50+ home runs. Despite these records, the World Series title, which other Yankees legends did obtain, remains elusive for the right fielder.

“They’ll probably make him a statue,” commented Carlos Rodón, Yankees’ left-handed pitcher. “I feel like for him, the right thing would be to win at least one World Series. I think his legacy would be well established if he won one here.”

Carlos Rodón

The pressure is on the Yankees not to waste Judge’s prime years. Despite the confidence of manager Aaron Boone and the team, the quest for the World Series remains a challenge. On April 26th, Judge will turn 34 years old. The Yankees are preparing for a season with important decisions by General Manager Brian Cashman, including Judge’s possible elbow surgery. The team, which has reached the postseason eight times with Judge, seeks to break a title drought that has lasted 16 years. Boone is expected to remain at the helm of the team, after signing a contract extension until 2027. The question is, what to expect from the rest of the team? The starting rotation looks solid, with Gerrit Cole returning from Tommy John surgery. The projected starting staff for opening day is strong, with Max Fried, Rodón, Cam Schlittler, Luis Gil, and Will Warren. Clarke Schmidt could join the group at the end of the season. The bullpen is another story. Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, and Jonathan Loáisiga will be free agents. The team has David Bednar as a closer, Camilo Doval in a setup role, and Fernando Cruz as an effective reliever, but the group, which struggled in 2025, could be different in 2026. In the outfield, Judge will secure right field if he’s ready for the start of the season. Cody Bellinger, after a great season, could choose not to renew his contract, while Trent Grisham will become a free agent. Jasson Domínguez and Spencer Jones could be internal options. In the infield, Anthony Volpe has not met expectations, but he has the backing of Boone and Cashman. José Caballero and George Lombard are other options. Paul Goldschmidt and Amed Rosario will be free agents. In the receiving position, Austin Wells did not perform as expected, and the team could look for a right-handed catcher to alternate with him. J.T. Realmuto, a right-handed hitter, could be an option in free agency.

The Yankees’ chances of competing in the playoffs in 2026 are high. However, winning the World Series remains a challenge, and the time to achieve it with Judge is running out. The task of preventing Judge from being remembered as the Yankees legend who never won a title is now more urgent than ever.