![\"Yankees](\"https:\/\/empiresportsmedia.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=1250,height=833,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/MLB-Detroit-Tigers-at-New-York-Yankees-anthony-volpe-27042276.jpg\")
Judge also battling limitations<\/h2>\n
Aaron Judge has remained a force offensively, but he\u2019s been noticeably limited in the outfield, especially with his throwing arm.<\/p>\n
Judge\u2019s production at the plate hasn\u2019t dipped \u2014 he continues to crush home runs \u2014 but his defensive presence isn\u2019t the same.<\/p>\n
Because of his arm limitations, the Yankees are locked into using Judge at designated hitter far more frequently than desired.<\/p>\n
That creates ripple effects across the roster, since it forces Giancarlo Stanton into the outfield more often, increasing injury risk.<\/p>\n
Cashman\u2019s update raises questions<\/h2>\n
General manager Brian Cashman didn\u2019t mince words when addressing the media Friday about the health of his two stars.<\/p>\n
Cashman admitted that both Volpe and Judge could require surgery this offseason, though Volpe is considered the more likely candidate.<\/p>\n
The acknowledgement itself highlights how much the Yankees have been gambling on health while fighting for playoff positioning.<\/p>\n
Missed opportunity with Volpe<\/h2>\n
The bigger frustration lies in the timing \u2014 the Yankees should have shut Volpe down weeks ago when the injury first flared.<\/p>\n
By pushing him through pain, they not only worsened his performance but risked aggravating the shoulder further heading into October.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s the equivalent of running a car engine on fumes \u2014 eventually, the damage outweighs the short-term benefit of staying on the road.<\/p>\n With Volpe benched, Jose Caballero has stepped into the role, offering stronger defense and some speed, though limited offensive upside.<\/p>\n The Yankees have also lost flexibility in the DH spot with Judge restricted, leaving Aaron Boone scrambling for workable lineups.<\/p>\n Managing around those limitations in September, against teams like Toronto and Boston, could be the difference between first place and chaos.<\/p>\n The Yankees are built to chase championships, but they\u2019ll need Judge and Volpe at their best when the postseason begins.<\/p>\n If Judge can manage the discomfort until November, his bat still carries game-breaking potential that few players can match.<\/p>\n But Volpe\u2019s situation is far more urgent \u2014 without rest, the Yankees risk watching their shortstop continue to spiral in crunch time.<\/p>\n Ultimately, the Yankees\u2019 playoff hopes may depend on balancing immediate wins with protecting the health of two core pieces long-term.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The New York Yankees benched Anthony Volpe amid a torn labrum and face tough surgery decisions with him and Aaron Judge looming.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":99991,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-99990","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"Yankees](\"https:\/\/empiresportsmedia.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=1250,height=833,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/MLB-Tampa-Bay-Rays-at-New-York-Yankees-anthony-volpe-26082520.jpg\")
Roster impact moving forward<\/h2>\n
The stakes in October<\/h2>\n