VERDICT? HELP IS NEEDED
WITHOUT JUDGE, CLUB HAS BIG HOLE TO FILL
Aaron Judge seemed a little less certain about the timeline for his expected return from a fractured wrist bone than the team did. The Yankees slugger, sporting a light cast on his right wrist, said that “they haven't told (him) much” about his rehab for the chip fracture.
He is just hopeful to be dry swinging a bat within a week.
“Around a week, I can start swinging again. With this type of fracture it's kind of on feel,” Judge said after Friday night's scheduled game against the Royals at the Stadium was postponed by rain. “Once the pain goes away and I have range of motion, once I get the strength back, I am good to go. Just got to get healthy first.”
While Yankee manager Aaron Boone said the announced time frame of three weeks for Judge to be back in a game, minor league rehab or major league, was “pretty realistic,” the Yankees are now without two of their biggest bats as they begin their second-half chase of the Red Sox.
They have 10 games remaining against Boston, including a fourgame series at Fenway next weekend, and do not know definitely when they will get two of their biggest bats back: Judge and Gary Sanchez, who is expected to be out a month with a groin injury.
That is a combined 40 homers and 103 RBI out of the lineup, so can the Yankees really expect to make up ground on the Red Sox, who went into Friday with a 4.5-game lead, without a move?
“Obviously, he is one of the best players in the league, so that's a blow,” Boone said of Judge's injury. “We also feel like we have the capability of rallying and picking up the slack. And other guys being able to step up and other guys have the opportunity, more opportunities. We feel like we can absolutely go out there and take care of business while he's down.
“When he comes back, it will be an added bonus.”
But Boone did not rule out the possibility that the Yankees could go out and find another big bat in a deal before the deadline.
An industry source said the Yankees' scouts were looking at some potential bats this week to add even before Thursday night. It wasn't a priority, however, until Judge took a 93-mile an hour fastball off his right wrist Thursday night and Sanchez went back on the DL earlier in the week.
“The Yankees aren't ever going to just sit back,” one scout said. “They have (position) players to fill the field, but those bats are hard to lose right now.”
Andrew McCutchen has 10 home runs and 43 RBI in his final year of a seven-year deal, if the Giants are ready to sell. They have already made a deal with the Blue Jays, and Curtis Granderson has nine homers and 29 RBI in limited action. Both teams were scouting the Yankees this week. The Yankees “do not like” Mets' outfielder Jose Bautista, even though he has been very productive and is drawing some interest, according to an industry source.
Two of the more intriguing big bats that could be fits are not outfielders.
Mike Moustakas has 20 homers and 62 RBI and has an opt-out after this season. The Royals are out of it and reportedly looking to sell. Also, per a team source, the Cardinals decided Friday that they are willing to part with slugger Jose Martinez, who could be a fit as he projects as an eventual DH.
For now, Boone sees using Neil Walker or Miguel Andujar as his designated hitter primarily until they get Judge back. Giancarlo Stanton will play the majority of the time in right field and they have some depth to spell their outfielders.
The Yankees called up infielder Tyler Wade, who has played 17 games in the outfield this season, Friday, and have outfielder Shane Robinson here already. Clint Frazier, who would be in line to take some of these opportunities, still has no timeline for his comeback from post-concussion migraines — though he was on his way to Tampa Friday.
The Yankees have the bodies to put in the outfield while Judge is out, but they have to seriously look at how they will fill the big holes in the lineup left by Judge and Sanchez.