Aaron Judge Criticizes Yankees' Slow Offseason

Star outfielder says waiting for team to make moves was "brutal" and "frustrating"

Feb. 17, 2026 at 3:47pm

New York Yankees star outfielder Aaron Judge was candid in his criticism of the team's relatively quiet offseason, saying the lack of major moves was "brutal," "tough," and "frustrating" for him to wait through. Judge expressed his impatience with the front office, though he did voice support for the team's re-signing of Cody Bellinger. Despite the slow offseason, Judge said he likes the Yankees' chances heading into the new season.

Why it matters

As the face of the Yankees franchise, Judge's comments reflect the high expectations and impatience of the team's fanbase. The Yankees' offseason moves, or lack thereof, will be closely scrutinized as they look to bounce back from a divisional round playoff exit last season.

The details

In speaking to the media, Judge was candid in his criticism of the Yankees' offseason, saying the lack of major transactions was "brutal," "tough," and "frustrating" for him to wait through. He expressed his impatience with the front office, saying "I'm like, 'Man, we're the New York Yankees. Let's go out there and get the right people, get the right pieces to go out there and finish this thing off." However, Judge did voice his support for the team's decision to re-sign outfielder Cody Bellinger to a $162.5 million contract.

  • The Yankees are currently in spring training preparing for the upcoming 2026 MLB season.

The players

Aaron Judge

The star outfielder for the New York Yankees who was critical of the team's slow offseason.

Cody Bellinger

An outfielder who the Yankees re-signed to a $162.5 million contract this offseason, which Judge endorsed.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I'm like, 'Man, we're the New York Yankees. Let's go out there and get the right people, get the right pieces to go out there and finish this thing off.”

— Aaron Judge, New York Yankees Outfielder

What’s next

The Yankees will look to build on their 94-68 record from last season and make a deeper playoff run in 2026.

The takeaway

As the face of the Yankees franchise, Aaron Judge's criticism of the team's slow offseason reflects the high expectations and impatience of the fanbase. The Yankees will need to be more active in free agency and trades if they want to satisfy their star player and contend for a championship.