The New York Yankees are in an uncertain offseason, and their franchise cornerstone has to make a big decision about his health. Aaron Judge had a career-high .331 batting average and hit 53 home runs in 152 games, but his right elbow injury might have made it harder for the team to win a championship. Yet the seven-time All-Star’s postseason performance, where he hit .500/.581/.692 and hit a clutch three-run home run in the divisional series, showed his value.

Judge hurt his flexor in July, which put him on the 10-day injured list. When he came back in August, the Yankees only let him play designated hitter. His throws were slower than usual when he returned to right field in September. This was a clear sign that he was not fully healed, and it continued into the postseason. Surgery may be needed to stop the problem from getting worse.

Andy Martino, speaking on the YouTube channel Pinstripe Territory, expressed serious concern about Judge’s reluctance to undergo surgery. “I, for one, am very worried about Judge,” Martino stated, emphasizing the structural risks. “Anytime you put strain on the structural pieces of your elbow, it’s only a matter of time before it gives out again.”

Martino detailed Judge’s ambiguous comments following the playoff elimination, noting that the outfielder did not initially think major surgery was necessary. “He made it sound like it on the way out after they lost in the division series. He didn’t make it sound like it was going to be a major surgery necessarily,” Martino explained.

Yet when pressed directly, Judge offered little clarity.

“We’ll probably do something,” while admitting, “I’m not a doctor.” Meanwhile, Martino’s frustration was evident as he warned of the consequences.

“If he doesn’t get the surgery, the Yankees are going to have to manage this all season, I’m sure, and going forward,” he cautioned.

When directly asked about surgery following the team’s playoff exit, Judge remained noncommittal. “We’ll definitely do some work on it,” he told reporters. “We’ll do some work on it and get it right.”

The injury crisis goes beyond Judge and hits the Yankees’ roster hard.

Team doctor Chris Ahmad did surgery on Tuesday to fix shortstop Anthony Volpe’s torn left labrum. Volpe hurt his shoulder in May while diving to make a play against the Tampa Bay Rays. He is now in recovery mode and may not be ready until the start of the 2026 regular season.

Volpe hit only .212, but he had 19 home runs and a career-high 72 RBIs in 153 games. The Yankees’ offensive core is facing unprecedented uncertainty now that both Judge and Volpe are out because of serious health problems.

Devin Williams weighs Yankees’ future amid relief pitching overhaul

When the offense isn’t producing as much in the late innings, reliability becomes even more important, which means the front office has to make a lot of roster decisions at once.

Devin Williams, a reliever, has both good and bad memories from his first season at New York. Williams came to Milwaukee with a lot of fanfare, but things went very badly for him in 2025, and he ended up with a career-worst 4.79 ERA. The 30-year-old did show some toughness, though.

He threw four scoreless innings in the playoffs and set a career high with 62 innings pitched overall.

Despite his struggles, Williams hasn’t ruled out a return to pinstripes.

“I really enjoyed my experience here,” Williams told MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch. “There’s a lot to like about this city, but it took me some time to adjust.” He emphasized his openness to continuing with the organization, stating he’d “definitely be open” to staying in New York.

His late-season improvements and playoff performance suggest the Yankees might reconsider their approach to his role.

The Yankees’ bullpen decisions are getting harder because their relief corps is already full. Since David Bednar and Camilo Doval are still under contract, management needs to decide if Williams is a good fit for their long-term plans or if they should focus their resources on other free agents like Ryan Helsley and Raisel Iglesias. Time will tell…