Aaron Judge Left Off Yankees' ALDS Roster for Series vs. Rays
The Yankees captain, sidelined since Sept. 16 with a right calf strain, will miss the opening round against Tampa Bay after the roster deadline passed Saturday.
What happened
The New York Yankees will play the American League Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays without Aaron Judge. A source confirmed the decision to ESPN on Saturday, and CBS Sports reported that the team announced the roster that morning. The YES Network was first to report it.
The Yankees had until 10 a.m. Saturday to submit their roster. Judge, 34, has been out since straining the soleus muscle in his right calf. He went on the injured list three days later and received a platelet-poor plasma injection to help healing.
How close was he?
Judge has pushed hard to return. He faced live pitching for the first time on Monday, the night before wild-card rosters were due, and the team considered adding him before going without him.
This week he ran in right field, took live batting practice at the Double-A affiliate and again at Yankee Stadium, and worked out in Tampa. At Tropicana Field on Friday he hit with teammates but did not run, according to ESPN.
Manager Aaron Boone said Friday the artificial turf would play "a little bit" into the decision. He also hinted the Yankees might carry Judge while limiting him early in the series.
Why the roster rules matter
CBS Sports explained that, unlike in the regular season, players cannot simply be added during a round. Judge could not replace another player unless there was an injury. If the Yankees had rostered him and then replaced him because he could not play, he would by rule have been left off the next round's roster too. Forcing the issue now could have cost him the ALCS.
There was also a lineup issue. If Judge had been the designated hitter, Luis García Jr. would have moved to the bench and Ben Rice would have played first base. García has hit well since arriving before the trade deadline, and he went 3 for 5 with a home run in Game 2 against Boston, per CBS.
The only change from the wild-card roster was reliever Ryan Weathers replacing infielder Amed Rosario.
Judge's season
Judge missed most of 2026 with what was first described as a bone bruise in his right ribcage that also affected his right shoulder. He came back in early September but played only seven games before the calf injury. CBS reported he went 4 for 23 with 13 strikeouts in that stretch, with one home run. Over 66 games he hit .241 with 18 home runs and 41 RBI.
The opponent
The Rays had the best record in the AL at 98-64 and won the AL East by 4½ games over New York. Tampa Bay took the regular-season series 7-6.
Also read Dylan Larkin Booed by Red Wings Fans, Placed on Injured Reserve Amid Trade Request
What happens next
Game 1 is Saturday evening at Tropicana Field. The two outlets give slightly different first-pitch times, 6:38 p.m. ET and 6:30 p.m. ET, so check your local listings. Judge's availability for the ALDS is effectively closed under the roster rules as reported. The Yankees' next chance to use him would be the ALCS, if they advance. Whether he is cleared by then is not yet known.
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