New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Tuesday that captain Aaron Judge will likely spend more time as the designated hitter in 2027 to help keep the star healthy after an injury-limited 2026 season.
Judge, who turns 35 next year, appeared in only 66 games this season while batting .241 with 18 home runs and 41 RBIs. He dealt with a fractured right rib early in the year and later a moderate-grade strain of his right soleus muscle that sidelined him for the postseason.
The Yankees finished 93-68, second in the AL East, swept the Boston Red Sox in the Wild Card Series, then were swept 3-0 by the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALDS. It marked the franchise’s 17th consecutive season without a World Series title.
Cashman addressed the plan during media sessions, acknowledging the likely friction it could create with his most important player.
“I’m sure he’s going to need some DH time. I’m sure he doesn’t want to hear that. He’s an alpha, wants to play every day. But at times you will see Judge playing DH because it’s in his best interest. And what’s in his best interest is in our best interest is if we can make sure he can maintain help. He’s one of the game’s best players and we must keep those guys on the field to go where we want to go,” Cashman said.
Judge remains under contract through 2031 on the nine-year, $360 million deal he signed before the 2023 season, which pays him $40 million annually. He is widely viewed as one of the game’s premier hitters when healthy, having won three AL MVP awards and posted elite production in recent full seasons.
The Yankees’ current roster construction adds complexity to any increased DH plan. Giancarlo Stanton is limited almost exclusively to designated hitter or pinch-hit duties because of his defensive limitations. First baseman Ben Rice spent significant time as the DH last season partly due to defensive concerns. Cashman has indicated a preference for Rice at first base more often next year, which would further squeeze available DH at-bats.
Other infield options, including Luis Garcia Jr., bring their own defensive questions. Judge has consistently preferred to play the outfield, both for his own desire to contribute on both sides of the ball and because the team often needs the DH spot for other hitters to optimize the lineup.
A full-time move to DH does not appear to be the expectation. Cashman has framed it as a partial increase in DH appearances rather than a permanent position change. Spencer Jones is viewed as a candidate to handle right field on nights Judge does not play the outfield. Cody Bellinger is also expected to occupy a regular outfield spot.
Trent Grisham is a free agent after a difficult 2026 season, and the Yankees have not shown strong interest in bringing him back. Adding another reliable outfielder who can start when Judge is the DH is viewed internally as important for the plan to work without creating new holes.
Judge was inactive for the entire postseason after his late-season calf issue. Cashman has said a recent follow-up exam with Dr. Gregory Pearl left the organization feeling Judge is in a good place heading into the offseason. No additional procedures are planned, and the expectation is that Judge will be ready when spring training begins.
The Yankees’ path back to deeper postseason contention will depend heavily on Judge’s availability. His absence for large stretches of 2026 coincided with offensive inconsistency, and the team managed just six runs across three ALDS games against the Rays.
Cashman’s comments come as the organization evaluates roster needs for 2027. Judge, speaking after the ALDS exit, said the Yankees should address any holes aggressively this winter.
“We’re the Yankees. I feel like they [the front office] should go all-in and do what they need to do. If we’ve got holes, if it’s finding certain players or personnel, whatever we need, you’ve got to go out there and get it,” Judge said.
The increased DH plan represents one early step the front office is considering to protect Judge’s long-term production. How much time he ultimately spends in the field versus the DH spot will depend on his health and the makeup of the surrounding roster once free agency and trades unfold.
