NEW YORK — The Yankees have spent the early offseason fielding questions about a clubhouse that never came together. The answers keep drifting back to one person.
Aaron Judge won his third American League MVP award a year ago, edging Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh 355-335 in the voting. He wears the captaincy once held by Derek Jeter. And he spent October in the dugout, unable to help.
A rib stress fracture and a calf strain limited Judge to 66 regular-season games in 2026. He hit .241 with 18 home runs and 41 RBIs, according to StatMuse. The Yankees swept the Boston Red Sox in the Wild Card Series, then were swept by the Tampa Bay Rays in the Division Series with their captain left off the roster.
Now the scrutiny has moved past the batter’s box. It centers on what Aaron Judge does away from the field, in conversations most fans never see.
A Yankees analyst on Pinstripe Territory, a YouTube show covering the club, argued that Judge has stepped too far into the front office’s lane. It arrives as the Yankees face an opening at second base and lingering questions about clubhouse culture.
Analyst says the captain is playing general manager
The analyst opened with praise for Judge’s resume and personality before turning to what bothers him.
“Now, Judge, I think, is viewed as a leader because of his status. You know, three-time MVP, and obviously he’s a larger-than-life figure. He’s a great guy, but… There are a few things that bother me with the way he conducts himself,” the analyst said.
He then made his central accusation, arguing that Judge’s push on personnel goes beyond a captain’s job.
“One, I feel like he (Aaron Judge) is too involved in the GM role. Like, he’s always trying to influence deals like – let’s bring in Verdugo, let’s keep Anthony Rizzo. Maybe he shouldn’t do that as much. Maybe he should stick to the clubhouse,” he said.
Judge’s own words leave the door open
The Alex Verdugo case has a paper trail. The Yankees acquired the outfielder from Boston in December 2023. Two months later, Verdugo said Judge had been pushing for the deal for a couple of years. The Yankees captain did not dispute it.
“I’ve been preaching for years that we’ve got to get that guy,” Judge said.
Judge has also acknowledged regular talks with general manager Brian Cashman and owner Hal Steinbrenner about improving the club. Asked in 2024 whether he lobbies for trade deadline moves, he gave a short answer and kept the details private.
“We’ll keep that in-house,” Judge said.
The Anthony Rizzo example is murkier. The Yankees signed the first baseman to a two-year deal in November 2022 with a $17 million club option for 2025. No public report shows Judge personally asked the club to keep him.
What the captain’s wish list actually produced
If Judge has steered roster decisions, the results have not broken his way. Neither player the analyst named lasted beyond 2024.
Verdugo played 149 games for the Yankees in 2024 and hit .233 with a .291 on-base percentage, 13 home runs and 61 RBIs, according to StatMuse. He left as a free agent and signed with the Atlanta Braves.
Rizzo hit .228 with eight homers and 35 RBIs in 92 games that season, his weakest year since his 2011 rookie campaign. The Yankees declined his option in November 2024 and paid a $6 million buyout. Rizzo announced his retirement in September 2025.
Neither exit points to a captain who gets his way once the front office makes the final call.
Clubhouse questions widen the debate
Randy Miller of NJ.com said this week that Judge should have been tougher on Jazz Chisholm Jr., whose base-running mistakes and on-field antics drew criticism through 2026. Chisholm reportedly confirmed Judge spoke to him sternly.
Chisholm, 28, finished with 19 homers and 55 RBIs and is now a free agent. The Yankees did not make him a qualifying offer, while extending a $23.15 million offer to closer David Bednar, NJ.com reported.
The two critiques pull in opposite directions. One says Judge does too much in the front office. The other says he did too little in the clubhouse.
MLB insider Jon Heyman reported that one or two Yankees higher-ups were annoyed when Judge suggested a club with a $320 million payroll could spend more.
Judge, 34, reached 10 years of major league service time this season. He became the 16th captain in franchise history in December 2022.
Could Judge be making some polarizing choices himself?
There’s another wrinkle, too. Recent reports suggest some Yankees executives were unhappy with Judge’s comments about the team’s payroll. That’s worth considering because it reminds us that leadership isn’t a one-way street. Players can challenge teammates, executives can challenge players, and even a respected captain isn’t immune from criticism.
Chisholm could be playing elsewhere in 2027, with his free agency creating another question for the Yankees. But moving one player out of the clubhouse doesn’t necessarily solve everything.
That’s perhaps the more interesting part of this story. Baseball teams are collections of individuals, not perfectly coordinated groups that always agree. The trick is finding a way to make those different personalities work toward the same goal.
Judge can set an example, speak up when necessary, and hold teammates accountable. But he can’t do everybody’s job for them. The Yankees have plenty of baseball talent. Whether they can turn that talent into a more comfortable, connected clubhouse might be a much bigger question heading into next season.
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