Yankees Captain Judge Relieved After 'Brutal' Offseason Wait

Three-time MVP Aaron Judge says he's ready to lead the Yankees after a slow free agency period.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge admitted it was "brutal" to wait on his team to make offseason moves, but he's now satisfied with the roster heading into spring training. The three-time and reigning American League MVP said he expressed his desire for the Yankees to be more active in free agency, but the team mostly brought back the same roster from 2025 that fell short in the playoffs. Judge also said his right elbow injury from last season has fully healed and he's ready to go for the new campaign.

Why it matters

As the face of the Yankees franchise, Judge's comments provide insight into the team's offseason strategy and his own mindset heading into the new season. The Yankees' relatively quiet offseason has drawn some criticism, and Judge's perspective sheds light on the internal dynamics and expectations within the organization.

The details

Judge said he was "like, 'Let's sign these guys right now and start adding more pieces,' because I've seen other teams around the league get better." However, the Yankees' biggest moves were re-signing outfielder Cody Bellinger and first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. The team also traded prospects to acquire Miami Marlins pitcher Ryan Weathers. Judge said his right elbow injury from last season has fully healed after some initial concern that he may need surgery.

  • Judge had his first media availability of spring training on Monday in Tampa.
  • The Yankees finished the 2025 season 94-68, lost the AL East title to the Toronto Blue Jays in a tiebreaker, and then fell to Toronto in the AL Division Series.

The players

Aaron Judge

The New York Yankees captain and three-time American League MVP.

Cody Bellinger

An outfielder who re-signed with the Yankees on a five-year, $162.5 million deal.

Paul Goldschmidt

A veteran first baseman who re-signed with the Yankees on a one-year, $4 million contract.

Ryan Weathers

A left-handed pitcher acquired by the Yankees in a trade with the Miami Marlins.

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What they’re saying

“It was brutal. I'm like, 'I see a lot of free agents out there.' I'm like, 'Let's sign these guys right now and start adding more pieces,' because I've seen other teams around the league get better.”

— Aaron Judge, New York Yankees Captain (tri-cityherald.com)

“We're right where we need to be. I love it. I don't know, people might have their opinions on (running it back) because we didn't win it all last year and fell short in the Division Series.”

— Aaron Judge, New York Yankees Captain (tri-cityherald.com)

What’s next

Judge is expected to play in 4-5 of the Yankees' first 9 Grapefruit League games as he gets back to throwing at game speed after his elbow injury.

The takeaway

As the face of the Yankees franchise, Judge's comments provide insight into the team's offseason strategy and his own high expectations. While the Yankees made relatively modest moves, Judge is confident the core roster can get the job done after falling short in the playoffs last year.