Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge had a difficult season in 2023, facing a torn toe ligament after colliding with the outfield wall at Dodger Stadium. In December, general manager Brian Cashman referred to it as a “resolved issue,” but Judge’s recent comments suggest that it will require ongoing attention throughout his career. According to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News, Judge stated that it will likely need “constant maintenance” moving forward.
Despite this, Judge expressed that he is currently feeling good, indicating that there is no immediate cause for concern. However, it is a situation worth monitoring in the future. As Judge approaches his 32nd birthday in April, he is set to become the everyday center fielder this year, with Juan Soto and Alex Verdugo on the corners. While Judge may occasionally serve as the designated hitter, with Trent Grisham taking over in center, the workload will still increase significantly.
During the 2022 season, Judge played 78 games as a center fielder, logging 632 2/3 innings at the position, both of which are his career highs. Assuming he avoids any injuries this year, he is expected to surpass these figures easily. Judge’s performance as a center fielder has been decent, considering his limited experience in the position. He has accumulated three Outs Above Average, -1 Defensive Runs Saved, and a -0.4 grade from Ultimate Zone Rating.
Maintaining these average results over a larger sample size will pose a challenge for Judge. Additionally, he will have to combat the natural decline that comes with age as he approaches his mid-30s, all while managing his toe injury. These minor issues could potentially accumulate over time, especially considering Judge has eight years remaining on his contract. However, his performance last season after returning from the injured list was impressive, with a batting average of .245, an on-base percentage of .408, and a slugging percentage of .557, resulting in a wRC+ of 164.
In other Yankees news, right-hander Clay Holmes revealed in an interview with Joel Sherman of The New York Post that the club has not approached him about a contract extension. Holmes, who will turn 31 next month, is set to become a free agent at the end of the year.
Over the past two years, Holmes has established himself as the team’s primary closer, recording 44 saves during that period. He has pitched 126 2/3 innings, with an earned run average of 2.70. Holmes has struck out 26.1% of batters faced and issued walks at an 8.2% rate. Most notably, he has induced ground balls on 70.6% of balls in play, which is the highest rate among pitchers with at least 120 innings pitched in the last two years.
Retaining this level of production beyond the upcoming season would be desirable, particularly for a Yankees team that values ground ball specialists. However, given Holmes’ proximity to free agency, the Yankees would likely have to offer a contract close to market value to secure his services.
Alternatively, the club may believe that they can find another player like Holmes through different means. As Sherman mentions, Holmes did not have an impressive track record when the Yankees acquired him. He had a career ERA of 5.57 before the Yankees traded for him, sending Hoy Park and Diego Castillo to the Pirates. However, the Yankees transformed him into a reliable closer.
However, the bullpen is facing significant changes. Holmes, Jonathan Loáisiga, Tommy Kahnle, and Caleb Ferguson are all impending free agents and are considered some of the team’s top high-leverage relievers. This leaves a great deal of uncertainty heading into 2025 and beyond. While bullpens can be flexible, it is likely that the Yankees will need to acquire talent through free agency.
The team’s payroll will likely be a topic of discussion next year, as they are expected to exceed the competitive balance tax threshold once again. Roster Resource estimates that the CBT number for next year will be $190MM, even before considering arbitration raises for players like Grisham, Nestor Cortes, or Jose Trevino. Additionally, there is Anthony Rizzo’s $17MM club option, which includes a $6MM buyout, making it an $11MM decision.
Next year’s base threshold is set at $241MM, and the Yankees will need to find replacements for impending free agents like Soto and Verdugo in their outfield. It is possible that the team may choose to save their resources for those pursuits rather than spending on the bullpen prematurely.
According to the Source mlbtraderumors.com