{"success":true,"data":{"id":"d4e583bd-5201-48d0-a6c7-068aea9f0a92","title":"Yankees’ Aaron Judge questions won’t be going away anytime soon","summary":"Aaron Judge was finally placed on the 60-day injured list Saturday, mostly a procedural move to free up a spot on the 40-man roster. Access the Yankees beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on...","content":"Aaron Judge was finally placed on the 60-day injured list Saturday, mostly a procedural move to free up a spot on the 40-man roster.\n\n## Access the Yankees beat like never before\n\n_Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time **texting with Greg Joyce** about the inside buzz on the Yankees._\n\nBut it was another reminder of just [how much time Judge will miss due to a fractured right rib](https://nypost.com/2026/07/18/sports/yankees-can-still-make-the-world-series-if-they-make-the-right-moves/) that’s sidelined him since the end of May.\n\nAnd even after Judge [underwent more testing Wednesday](https://nypost.com/2026/07/17/sports/aaron-judge-offers-injury-update-with-promise-of-yankees-return-this-season/), which showed some healing, he’s still not able to resume baseball activities.\n\nAaron Boone said Saturday that Dr. Gregory Pearl, the rib specialist who gave Judge the initial diagnosis, agreed he’ll still be limited, with the manager adding Judge needs to be “asymptomatic” before he can resume upper-body workouts.\n\nWhen that happens is anyone’s guess, although Boone said there was some encouragement in that Judge’s pain has gone from “sharp” to “more dull.”\n\n![Aaron Judge clapping in the dugout during a Yankees-Twins game.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/new-york-yankees-aaron-judge-133399501_70e274.jpg?w=1024)Aaron Judge is pictured during the Yankees’ July 5 game against the Twins. Robert Sabo for the NY Post\n\nAll of this means the Yankees will have to survive for some time longer, as he figures to need at least several weeks after he’s healthy to get back into the lineup.\n\nIt’s possible he won’t be back until September, and there’s no guarantee he’ll be at full strength.\n\nThat means the questions surrounding the Yankees — and their lineup — won’t be going away anytime soon.\n\nThe Yankees have continued to be mediocre at best in his absence.\n\nThey are just 18-20 since Judge got hurt after opening the season 36-23.\n\nThat drop-off brings back memories of 2023, when the Yankees missed the playoffs largely because Judge was sidelined with a torn toe ligament after slamming into the wall at Dodger Stadium.\n\nBoone has said this roster is deeper than the one three years ago and that outside of a stretch when the Yankees lost nine of 10 from late June to early July, “for the most part, we’ve played well.”\n\nBut cracks have become apparent.\n\nIt was true again in the team’s first game back from the All-Star break Friday, when it scored just one run in a loss to the Dodgers in The Bronx.\n\nHere’s a look at how the lineup has fared in Judge’s absence:\n\nSince Judge’s last game May 31, they’ve gotten solid production from Trent Grisham, who has an .894 OPS in that stretch.\n\n![Aaron Judge in the dugout wearing a Yankees cap and shirt.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/new-york-yankees-aaron-judge-134744922.jpg?w=982)Aaron Judge is pictured in the Yankees’ dugout during their July 17 loss to rthe Dodgers. Jason Szenes for the NY Post\n\nIt’s the highest mark on the team, but the center fielder still is impacted by the strained right hamstring that landed him on the IL just over a month ago.\n\nThe effects of that were seen Friday, when Grisham was thrown out at home trying to score on Ben Rice’s eighth-inning double.\n\nAs for Rice, who hasn’t been the MVP-level force he had been with Judge in the lineup, he nonetheless has put up an OPS of .864 without him.\n\n- **CHECK OUT THE [LATEST MLB STANDINGS](https://sportstats.nypost.com/baseball/mlb/standings) AND [YANKEES STATS](https://sportstats.nypost.com/baseball/mlb/teamstatistics/2970)**\n\nPaul Goldschmidt’s production has dipped, largely because he’s playing much more than the Yankees anticipated, with Judge and Giancarlo Stanton out.\n\nBut his .758 OPS has not been an issue.\n\nThough Jasson Domínguez hasn’t been able to secure an everyday job, even without Judge available, he’s been somewhat of a threat.\n\nYankees Merch Shop\n\nNew York Post receives revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and when you make a purchase.\n\nThe culprits for the Yankees lineup issues arguably begin with All-Star Cody Bellinger, who had an .855 OPS before Judge got hurt and just a .622 OPS in his absence.\n\nLike the Yankees overall, Bellinger was impressive in the immediate aftermath of the loss of Judge, but has fallen off considerably since the middle of June.\n\nHe’s 16-for-90 with four doubles in his last 24 games entering Saturday — although he’s 8-for-20 in his past five games.\n\n### Go beyond the box score with the Bombers\n\nSign up for Inside the Yankees by Greg Joyce, exclusively on Sports+.\n\n### Thank you\n\nEnjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter!","source_name":"New York Post","source_url":"https://nypost.com/2026/07/19/sports/yankees-aaron-judge-questions-wont-be-going-away-soon/","url":"https://nypost.com/2026/07/19/sports/yankees-aaron-judge-questions-wont-be-going-away-soon/","author":"Dan Martin","author_name":"Dan Martin","published_at":"2026-07-19T07:42:34.000Z","publication_date":"2026-07-19T07:42:34.000Z","image_url":"https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/crop-40027121.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1200","category":"world","topic":"world","tags":[],"political_bias":null,"bias_score":null,"confidence_score":null,"credibility_score":null,"factual_quality":null,"reading_time":4,"word_count":721,"view_count":0,"breaking":false,"breaking_news":false,"ai_analysis":null,"fact_check_status":"unverified","archive_status":"hot"}}