The spring has barely begun, and the injury bug is already haunting the Yankees—this time, it’s designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton. The slugger will be out of action for now and won’t be available for the opening stretch of the regular season, leaving the Yankees with a glaring hole at DH.
Enter Aaron Judge.
While nothing is set in stone, Yankees GM Aaron Boone has floated the idea of Judge stepping into the DH role, which would be a sight to behold. Can you imagine the Yankees’ captain unleashing his power without the wear and tear of playing the outfield? Fans would certainly love to see Judge launching bombs all over the park.
But is this really the best move for the Yankees? And could Stanton’s setback actually turn into an opportunity for Judge?
What made playing as a DH a blessing for Aaron Judge? He is renowned for his explosive power and ability to hit the ball with extreme force, as evidenced by his high exit velocities and long home runs. Playing as a DH, Judge can leverage his power-hitting abilities to score some home runs. His power-hitting will be more on display as a DH. Moreover, Aaron Judge is 32 now, and playing at the base or outfielder is taking a major toll on his body. While playing as a DH, he can prolong his career by not focusing on his defensive abilities anymore. With 58 HR and 144 RBIs amassed last year, Judge is the right candidate for taking the role of Stanton.
Aaron Boone was asked if he would consider Aaron Judge as a DH in the absence of Giancarlo Stanton:
“That sounds like a hypothetical. Hopefully that’s not the case but anytime G’s down I like to give that as time for Judge to DH some, so it just depends.” pic.twitter.com/S7aYYId3J8
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) February 17, 2025
“That sounds like a hypothetical. Hopefully, that’s not the case, but anytime G’s down, I like to give that time for Judge to DH some, so it just depends,” said Boone during the Yankees spring training press meet. This indicates that Judge is not the final contender to take the role of DH, and even if so, it will be an occasional role for him. For the Yankees, Aaron Judge is their most prized possession, and his longer career is just what the team needs for the next few years. Putting him off from a heavy workload is what needs to be considered when offering DH to Judge other than just contending him as a replacement.
Potential options left
As per Boone, Aaron Judge is an option to take the DH role. Apart from him, who are the other options available for the team going forward? Dominic Smith is a potential option who currently plays as a left-fielder. However, his downward performance trend is a concern for Boone. In 2024, he played 93 games between the Red Sox and Reds, hitting .233/.313/.378 with six homers and a 93 wRC+. That’s not exactly the kind of production a contending team wants from its designated hitter.
What if the Yankees land someone for the DH role? Remember, veteran sluggers like J.D. Martinez and Justin Turner are still available. These players might not contribute at the bases or running between the fields, but they can be potent enough to hit runs. While Aaron Judge is reportedly considered to be placed at 2B or the third this year, an experienced hand is what is needed for DH. Well, Boone still has some time to decide whom to go with for this role.
Aaron Judge got multiple positions offered to play, and fans need to wait and check where he is perfectly fitting. Yes, Judge as a DH will be a sight to witness!
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