The New York Yankees can still reach the World Series, but only if the front office adds hitting before the trade deadline.
That is the picture emerging after roughly six weeks of watching the team struggle without Aaron Judge, their best player.
Judge has been on the shelf for more than six weeks, and there is still no concrete timetable for his return.
The Yankees recently reimaged the affected rib area. Judge remains unable to take part in baseball activity, and that delay is not an encouraging sign.
Without him, the offense has looked flat. The team has hit only in short bursts, and the results have followed.
The message from the Bronx is now hard to ignore. The Yankees need offensive help, and they need it soon.
What follows is an analysis of where things stand and what the club has to weigh as the deadline approaches.
The first concern is Judge himself. The fact that he still isn’t ready for baseball activity after the new imaging suggests the rib problem is not close to resolved.
Six-plus weeks out is already a long absence for a player of his standing. The additional imaging points to lingering caution rather than a quick fix.
The second concern is how the team performs in his place. The Yankees have looked hapless, bordering on hopeless, whenever Judge has been out of the lineup.
Photo: nypost.com
That is a blunt assessment, but the run of play backs it up. A lineup built around one dominant bat has struggled to find another gear.
For the Yankees, the deadline now becomes the obvious moment to act. Adding a hitter would take pressure off a lineup that has leaned too heavily on its missing star.
The alternative is to wait and hope Judge returns quickly. Given the uncertainty around his rib, that is a risk the front office may not want to take.
Sports+ subscribers can follow the inside buzz on the situation through Greg Joyce’s text messages from the Bronx and beyond.
The Yankees remain a contender on paper. The path to October is still open, and the roster still has the framework of a team that can go deep.
But the last month and a half has exposed how thin the margin is without Judge. When he sits, the offense goes quiet.
That is the case for buying at the deadline rather than standing pat. The right move now could be the difference between a serious run and a disappointing finish.
For now, the club waits on two answers. One is Judge’s health. The other is how aggressive the front office is willing to be before the deadline closes.
Source: NYPOST