​ESPN and Associated Press reported yesterday that Yankees general manager Brian Cashman spoke with reporters about Aaron Judge’s ongoing absence, noting that Judge has been out since June 5 due to a rib cage stress fracture. Cashman indicated that during the All-Star Break the team will undergo additional imaging to better gauge when Judge can begin ramping up his activity again. However, the prevailing expectation is that the imaging results will not present a clean path back to the field, and Judge likely won’t be back until he is fully healed.
Separately, the New York Post, via Greg Joyce, provided an update on Giancarlo Stanton. According to the report, Stanton’s recent calf issue was not a new setback but another strain in a different section of his right calf. Stanton has finally been cleared to start running, but there is still no concrete timetable for his return. At this stage, a return before August seems unlikely, with August serving as the earliest reasonable window for him to be back in action.
In a broader roster discussion, The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner (subscription required) relayed Cashman’s comments on the team’s current makeup, emphasizing that the catching position has been a significant area of concern for the Yankees. Of particular interest to fans is the note about George Lombard Jr.’s status. Lombard, who has been out with sprained fingers, is expected to return around the All-Star Break. Cashman indicated that Lombard’s defensive work could be immediately usable at the major league level, while his offense may need time to catch up to the demands of the league.
The Athletic’s Tyler Kepner contributed additional context that extends beyond the Yankees’ immediate concerns. While not strictly Yankees news, Kepner highlighted remarks from Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole that touch on the industry-wide implications of a potential retirement by Justin Verlander after the current season. Verlander’s possible departure has sparked discussion about whether we have already seen the last pitcher to reach 300 career wins, a milestone currently standing at 266 for Verlander, with Max Scherzer at 222 and Cole at 156. Kepner notes that injuries hindered Verlander and acknowledges him as one of the last pitchers who managed to navigate both the pre-analytics and post-analytics eras, including his notable achievement of throwing 250 innings in a single season back in 2011. These insights from Cole add a broader, historical lens to the Yankees’ current landscape, tying in prominent veteran pitchers who have shaped the game’s evolution in recent decades.