The Yankees’ early offseason conversation keeps circling back to Aaron Judge, and not just because he’s the face of the team. The latest criticism has nothing to do with his bat and everything to do with how much sway he may have inside the organization.
Judge, the reigning captain and a three-time American League MVP, has long been viewed as the clubhouse standard-bearer. But after a 2026 season that was cut down by a rib stress fracture and a calf strain, some of the attention has shifted from what he did on the field to what he may be doing behind the scenes.
A Yankees analyst on Pinstripe Territory argued that Judge has crossed a line by getting too involved in roster matters.
“Now, Judge, I think, is viewed as a leader because of his status. You know, three-time MVP, and obviously he’s a larger-than-life figure. He’s a great guy, but… There are a few things that bother me with the way he conducts himself,” the analyst said.
He then sharpened the point, saying Judge has been acting too much like another decision-maker in the building.
“One, I feel like he (Aaron Judge) is too involved in the GM role. Like, he’s always trying to influence deals like - let’s bring in Verdugo, let’s keep Anthony Rizzo.
Maybe he shouldn’t do that as much. Maybe he should stick to the clubhouse,” he said.
There is at least some evidence that Judge has been vocal about personnel. When the Yankees acquired Alex Verdugo from Boston in December 2023, Verdugo later said Judge had wanted the move for a couple of years. Judge didn’t push back on that.
“I’ve been preaching for years that we’ve got to get that guy,” Judge said.
Judge has also said he talks regularly with general manager Brian Cashman and owner Hal Steinbrenner about ways to improve the team. When asked in 2024 whether he lobbies for trade deadline additions, he kept his answer brief.
“We’ll keep that in-house,” Judge said.
The Anthony Rizzo example is less clear. The Yankees brought Rizzo back on a two-year deal in November 2022 with a $17 million club option for 2025, but there’s no public report showing Judge personally pushed for the first baseman to stay.
And if Judge did have a hand in either move, the results were mixed at best. Verdugo played 149 games for the Yankees in 2024 and hit .233 with a .291 on-base percentage, 13 home runs and 61 RBIs, according to StatMuse. He left in free agency and signed with the Atlanta Braves.
Rizzo’s final Yankees season was even rougher. He hit .228 with eight homers and 35 RBIs in 92 games, his weakest year since his 2011 rookie season.
The Yankees declined his option in November 2024 and paid a $6 million buyout. Rizzo announced his retirement in September 2025.
At the same time, another line of criticism has surfaced around Judge’s leadership in the clubhouse itself. Randy Miller of NJ.com said this week that Judge should have been more forceful with Jazz Chisholm Jr., whose base-running mistakes and on-field antics drew heat during 2026. Chisholm reportedly confirmed that Judge spoke to him sternly.
Chisholm, 28, finished with 19 home runs and 55 RBIs and is now a free agent. The Yankees did not make him a qualifying offer, while extending a $23.15 million offer to closer David Bednar, NJ.com reported.
That leaves Judge getting hit from both directions: one critique says he’s too involved in the front office, while the other says he wasn’t hard enough on a teammate.
There’s also the matter of his comments about payroll. MLB insider Jon Heyman reported that one or two Yankees higher-ups were annoyed when Judge suggested a club with a $320 million payroll could spend more.
Judge, 34, reached 10 years of major league service time this season. He became the 16th captain in franchise history in December 2022.
The bigger issue for the Yankees may be how all of this fits together. Judge can lead, speak up and set a tone, but he can’t do every job in the organization.
The club has plenty of talent. Whether that talent turns into a more connected clubhouse is still a question hanging over next season.
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