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The Yankees and MLB are set to suffer a sizable blow as megastar Aaron Judge will have his longest absence from play since at least 2019.
Judge, the two-time American League Most Valuable Player and a three-time winner of the award, sustained a rib stress fracture and is out of action indefinitely. The Yankees said late Thursday that the outfielder “is expected to return at some point this season,” and he will be re-examined in four to six weeks to determine the next steps. The Yankees had feared an even-worse diagnosis of thoracic outlet syndrome, which would have sidelined him for the rest of the year.
Still, the Yankees, and the league overall, will be without one of its top talents and fan draws for at least the heart of the season, and likely next month’s All-Star Game in Philadelphia, too. For much of this decade, Judge has been one of MLB’s top two superstars, along with Dodgers two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani, and is a major driver of attendance, viewership, and merchandise sales.
That standing was further codified at the end of last year, when Ohtani and Judge ranked first and second, respectively, among MLB jersey sales in 2025 across the Fanatics network of sites.
“It’s tough when guys get hurt, but unfortunately, it’s part of the game,” said Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole, who missed all of 2025 and the first part of this season after having Tommy John surgery. “As a team, you’ve got to figure out how to step up in those situations, and so that’s what we’ll do.”
Judge has battled several injuries before in his 11-year career, including a torn toe ligament in 2023 that saw him miss 42 games, a 2019 oblique strain that cost him 54 games, and a broken wrist in 2018 that took 45 more. The latest situation, however, is poised to be the most serious yet. Before the confirmation of Judge’s absence, the slugger was struggling to keep up with his usual lofty standards. In the 15 games he played before going out of action, he hit just .193, and slugged only .298 with one home run.
The Yankees, trying to win their first World Series since 2009, also have shown to be a far worse team whenever Judge is out of the lineup. The Yankees have gone 652–442 with Judge since he became an everyday regular in 2017, and 136–127 without him.
With Judge’s absence, the 2025 AL MVP and Cy Young Award winners are both out with serious injuries, as Tigers ace Tarik Skubal had elbow surgery last month.
Stanton Watching
The Yankees are expected to make a series of roster moves to help deal with Judge’s absence, including calling back up from the minors highly touted prospect Spencer Jones. The power-hitting Jones had a brief, 10-game stint with New York last month before being optioned back to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Another point of focus will be awaiting the return later this month of designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton, also out with injury with a strained right calf. As that happens, the roster effects of Stanton on his former team, the Marlins, are still unfolding.
Stanton played in Miami from 2010 to 2017, when he was traded to the Yankees. In that deal, the Marlins agreed to absorb $30 million of the $295 million still owed on Stanton’s contract at that time. That money is now coming due, with the Marlins set to pay $10 million this year, and again in 2027 and 2028, with each annual obligation split into $5 million payments scheduled for July 1 and Oct. 1.
With the Marlins ranking last among MLB teams in luxury-tax payroll, Stanton still stands third among the highest-paid players on the team this year—despite his not playing for Miami in nearly a decade.
Should the Marlins trade their top two highest-paid players, pitchers Sandy Alcantara and Pete Fairbanks, at the upcoming Aug. 3 trade deadline, Stanton would rise to No. 1 on the list.
