Aaron Judge is back to upper-body workouts and light running, his first real on-field activity since landing on the injured list June 2 with a right rib stress fracture.
Progress remains slow. Judge still feels discomfort in the rib, and both he and Yankees management admit the issue lingers. Manager Aaron Boone says the training staff will ramp up Judge’s preparation in stages as his rib heals, but there’s no set timetable for his return. General manager Brian Cashman made it clear: the priority is getting Judge fully healthy, not rushing him back and risking further injury from deconditioning.
The Yankees’ offense has sputtered without him. In 59 games since Judge went down, New York has scored just 226 runs, averaging 3.83 per game, a steep drop from their early-season pace. The lineup’s struggles have put extra weight on a pitching staff that’s been elite, keeping the Yankees atop the AL wild card standings. Judge’s absence has exposed a glaring hole in run production and forced the team to lean heavily on its arms.
A return before September looks doubtful. Rehab milestones and ongoing pain suggest Judge’s comeback will be a slow burn, leaving the Yankees to juggle lineup questions and offensive gaps for the foreseeable future.
Garrett Crochet’s situation in Boston is just as murky. After missing three months with shoulder inflammation and a lat strain, Crochet started a throwing program this week, his first since June. He reported feeling “really good,” but admitted he’s unlikely to be stretched out enough to start again this season or in the playoffs.
Injuries have derailed Crochet’s 2026 campaign. Before his shutdown, he posted a 6.30 ERA over six starts, a far cry from his runner-up finish for the AL Cy Young Award in 2025. Boston’s rotation, though, has picked up the slack, ranking among the league leaders in ERA and innings pitched. The Red Sox haven’t missed a beat, but the idea of Crochet returning as a bullpen weapon is intriguing. His dominance in short stints and the unpredictable nature of postseason pitching could make him a difference-maker.
Crochet is open to a relief role, eager to contribute after months on the shelf. Deploying him in high-leverage spots could reshape Boston’s late-game strategy and add another layer to an already deep pitching staff.
Meanwhile, the AL East’s roster shuffle continued as the Houston Astros acquired outfielder Daulton Varsho from the Toronto Blue Jays for starter Spencer Arrighetti. Varsho brings defensive versatility and speed, with seven home runs and nine steals in 365 plate appearances over 99 games this year. Houston needed help in center field after Jake Meyers’ demotion, and Varsho fills that gap.
Arrighetti heads to Toronto while on the injured list with right foot nerve irritation. Before the injury, he’d carved out a role in Houston’s rotation. Toronto is betting on his health to bolster their starting depth as the playoff race heats up. The Blue Jays’ hopes rest on Arrighetti’s ability to contribute down the stretch.
Varsho’s power-speed combo and postseason experience, he played a key role in Toronto’s World Series run last year, make him a crucial addition for Houston. The Astros have leaned heavily on Yordan Alvarez, so Varsho’s on-base skills and defensive range could prove vital in tight late-season games.
These moves ripple across the division. Injuries and trades are forcing contenders to adapt on the fly, and the teams that squeeze the most value from returning stars, mid-season pickups, and bullpen tweaks will have the edge.
Player utilization strategies and future projections are shifting quickly, as seen in statistical models and betting odds for emerging talent reacting to every roster move.
Boston’s flexibility with Crochet, New York’s patience with Judge, and Toronto’s gamble on Arrighetti’s recovery all loom large as the AL East race enters its final act.
