Aaron Judge’s Concerns About Yankees’ Offseason

Michael Kay, the voice of the Yankees on YES Network, expressed some thoughts about Aaron Judge’s disappointment with the Yankees’ slow offseason during his ESPN NY radio show on Tuesday. Although he said he couldn’t entirely understand Judge’s viewpoint, he found the offseason particularly “tough to watch.” Kay conveyed that he wanted Cody Bellinger back and, in the end, appreciated Brian Cashman’s decision-making.

“Did it seem passive-aggressive to you?” Kay queried a caller. “He was obviously frustrated, yet he also loves this team. So, what was bothering him? Just the slow pace? The fact that they didn’t make moves sooner? If bringing in Bellinger was the goal, then waiting it out with Scott Boras involved might have put them in a tough position. It almost came across as passive-aggressive to me.”

Kay further argued that once Bellinger was established as a priority, the Yankees had little choice but to wait while Boras maneuvered the market for him.

“He sounded a bit frustrated, and then he flipped to being satisfied. A touch passive-aggressive, maybe, but ultimately, he loves this team. This is the team he wanted,” Kay said. “I just don’t quite get what you’re saying, Aaron. What exactly would you change?”

In response to fans calling for the acquisition of Alex Bregman, Kay clarified that the third baseman, now signed with the Cubs, was never actually a viable option for the Yankees because, well, he just didn’t think Bregman’s swing would work at Yankee Stadium.

As for Kyle Tucker, Kay noted that if Bellinger and Trent Grisham return, there simply wouldn’t be room for Tucker on the roster.

Judge himself conveyed his concerns during Monday’s spring training, saying, “It was pretty hard to watch in the beginning. I’m thinking, ‘Hey, we’re the New York Yankees; let’s bring in the right players and finish the game.’ We have a solid core, especially with some young talent. It was frustrating, but I believe we’re getting to where we need to be.”