Sad News: Yankees Star Man Aaron Judge Says He Will Never Play With Yankees Again Till Coach Aaron Boone Will Leave
TAMPA — Aaron Boone said Saturday he was done predicting when Aaron Judge might get back into a game.
That lasted just about 48 hours.
Boone’s latest prediction came Monday when he said he hoped to have Judge back in the lineup on Wednesday when the Yankees face the Pirates following Tuesday’s day off.
It would mark Judge’s first game since March 10, when he only took two at-bats and then underwent an MRI on his abdomen the next day that he and the team said came back clean.
“I think we’re a go on Wednesday,” Boone said after the Yankees’ 4-3 win over the Phillies at Steinbrenner Field. “But I’ve obviously failed on this part the last week. So yes, that is the plan, playing Wednesday against the Buccos.”
Since he last played a game, Judge’s status has been largely shrouded in mystery.
He has not hit on the field since then, but the Yankees said he resumed swinging on Friday indoors with tee and toss. Boone said Judge faced a high-velocity machine on Sunday and then hit breaking balls on Monday after heading inside following defensive drills on the field.
Boone indicated Judge “should” play in four of the Yankees’ final six Grapefruit League games, giving him enough at-bats to be ready for Opening Day on March 28.
The Yankees will be facing Trevor Bauer when they play in Mexico City on Sunday.
Bauer, who remains unsigned after serving a 194-game suspension for violating MLB’s domestic violence policy and then pitching last season in Japan, tweeted on Monday that he would be pitching for Diablos Rojos during their two-game series against the Yankees next week.
The New York Yankees have opted to retract their offer for coveted free-agent pitcher Blake Snell, signaling a shift in their pursuit of the left-handed ace.
The Yankees had extended an offer to Snell worth $150 million over six years. However, Snell’s camp indicated a desire for a more lucrative deal, seeking $270 million over nine years.The Yankees offered $150 million last month to Blake Snell but pulled their offer and declined to re-enter the sweepstakes on Sunday
Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) March 19, 2024
Speculation surrounding Snell’s potential move to the Yankees intensified after he and current Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole were spotted together at a Baseball Writers banquet in Manhattan.
While the duo share the same agent as Scott Boras, their proximity fueled rumors among eager New York fans.
Adding fuel to the fire, Cole made a cryptic comment regarding his interaction with Snell at the event, stating, “I found it particularly interesting that I was sitting next to Blake all night,” as reported by NJ.com.
According to sources cited by Klapisch, Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner has signaled a shift in focus away from Snell’s acquisition.
Snell, a 31-year-old southpaw, is coming off an impressive season in 2023, during which he secured his second Cy Young Award with a stellar 2.25 ERA.
Despite concerns over his walk rate, Snell’s ability to navigate challenging situations on the mound has been evident throughout his career, highlighted by his 180 innings pitched and 32 starts in the previous season.
With Spring Training on the horizon, Snell’s decision regarding his next destination looms large.
