Aaron Judge's return, MLB trade deadline lead Yankees watch list

[ASFN Admin]

NEW YORK – Out of the All-Star break, the Yankees’ immediate thoughts – winning the AL East - are the same as when they left spring training.

“We tied last year for first (place) and it came back to bite us,’’ Cam Schlittler said this week, referring to losing the divisional tiebreaker to the Blue Jays, who went on to win the AL pennant.

“Every game matters,’’ and it resumes this weekend in the Bronx, with the Yanks hosting the two-time defending world champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

Yanks’ ace Gerrit Cole is due to start Friday’s opener of a three-game set – his first action against the Dodgers since Game 5 of the 2024 World Series – followed by Ryan Weathers on Saturday and Schlittler pitching Sunday.


“It’s going to be a good test for us,’’ Schlittler said of facing the NL West leading Dodgers, with the Yanks now three games behind the AL East-leading Rays. “It should be a lot of fun.’’

Here are a few items on the agenda as the Yankees' season resume:

Aaron Judge, and company​

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This week, Judge was due to be re-imaged to see how that fractured first right rib is healing, six weeks after he landed on the injury list.

Extended trips to the IL by Judge always come with an air of mystery regarding his progress and timetable, but perhaps we’ll find out if he’s ready – or not – to begin ramping toward baseball activity.

Meanwhile, Max Fried (elbow bone bruise) could begin a rehab assignment this weekend, possibly getting him back in the Yanks’ rotation around Aug. 1.

Fellow lefty starter Carlos Rodon (elbow inflammation) is gradually ramping up his throwing program.

He’s behind Fried’s progress, but it might not take Rodon too long to build back up once he’s cleared to begin throwing to live batters; he last started on June 28.

Looming MLB trade deadline​

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GM Brian Cashman recently said that Judge’s situation doesn’t change how he’ll approach the Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline, which means an open-minded approach.

“We’re open…to try to improve ourselves, period,’’ Cashman said last week, adding that he’d try to push in on anything that makes sense’’ to improve the 2026 club, “whether it’s pitching or offense.’’

Upgrades in the bullpen and the catching position are anticipated areas to address, but would these be marginal changes or potential impact moves?

That might depend on the Yanks’ willingness to move the likes of Spencer Jones, Jasson Dominguez, Carlos Lagrange and George Lombard Jr.

Adding from within​

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Lagrange was transitioning to a late-inning relief role in the minors when he developed a shoulder strain, possibly ending his season.

But Lombard Jr., a sure infield defender with offensive potential, might impact the Yankees’ roster by September.

Defensively, the shortstop-by-trade, is big-league ready now.

“He’d been pushing himself before the injury,’’ Cashman said of Lombard’s recent finger strains to his glove hand, adding that the right-handed hitter and current top organizational prospect “might be a choice at some point’’ for the 2026 Yankees.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Aaron Judge's return, MLB trade deadline lead Yankees watch list

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