Yankees' $360M, 7-time All-Star avoids Tommy John surgery, sidesteps disastrous 2026 season

Hunter Cookston

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Yankees' $360M, 7-time All-Star avoids Tommy John surgery, sidesteps disastrous 2026 season image

The New York Yankees are coming off their second consecutive season being eliminated from the playoffs on their home field. However, this season was different, as manager Aaron Boone faced heavy criticism. After the ALDS series loss, Derek Jeter came to Boone’s defense.

“And he [Boone] sticks up for his players, I know he takes a lot of heat. But, I'm not saying it from any inside knowledge but I'm pretty sure Aaron is not the one that's calling every move that they make throughout the game,” Jeter stated on the air.

Another factor was that the Yankees’ best player battled an arm injury all season. The injury sidelined Aaron Judge for some time and limited his ability to play in the outfield at times.

“Judge, 33, suffered a flexor strain in the elbow in late July to interrupt another MVP-caliber season. Unable to throw without acute pain, he was placed on the injured list. He returned exclusively as a designated hitter on Aug. 5 while rehabbing the injury,” ESPN’s Jorge Castillo wrote.

On Thursday, it was announced that Judge will be able to avoid Tommy John surgery, a development that spares the Yankees from a potentially disastrous 2026 season.

“If Judge had required Tommy John surgery or some other significant elbow operation, that would have had lingering impacts into the 2026 season, though it seems Judge will be expected to be a full-time outfielder again next year. That should allow the Yankees to go into 2026 planning on having Judge in right and Stanton in the DH slot,” MLB Trade Rumors’ Darragh McDonald wrote.

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Getting Judge back to full health is huge for the Yankees, who are aiming for a big year in 2026. This season is already in the rearview mirror.

A season without Judge would have forced an offseason move that would carry over into 2026. Now, the Yankees know a very familiar face will be in right field to start the season.

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Hunter Cookston

Hunter Cookston began his career as a sportswriter for the Marion Tribune, where he covered local high school football, basketball and baseball. His passion for sports started at the age of four when he played his first year of tee ball. Growing up in Tennessee, he developed a deep love for the Tennessee Volunteers and Atlanta Braves. Hunter is currently attending Tennessee Wesleyan University, where he is pursuing a BA in Sports Communications/Management.