Published on Feb. 17, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Aaron Judge acknowledged that the early part of the offseason was ‘brutal’ waiting for the Yankees to make moves, but he’s now happy with where the team ended up after re-signing Cody Bellinger and bringing back most of the roster from last season. Judge, the back-to-back AL MVP, is looking forward to another shot at winning a World Series with the Yankees’ core group of players.

Why it matters

Judge is the face of the Yankees franchise and has Hal Steinbrenner’s ear, so his perspective on the team’s offseason moves and his desire to finally win a World Series with the organization carries a lot of weight. The Yankees are taking a ‘run it back’ approach after falling short in the playoffs last year, which has drawn some criticism from fans, but Judge is embracing the opportunity.

The details

Judge said the early part of the offseason was ‘brutal’ as he watched the rest of the league make moves while the Yankees were relatively quiet until re-signing Cody Bellinger in January. However, Judge is now excited about the team’s chances, citing the return of impact players like Bellinger, Paul Goldschmidt, and Trent Grisham. He believes the young core will continue to develop and that adding Gerrit Cole will further strengthen the roster.

The Yankees re-signed Cody Bellinger to a long-awaited deal in mid-January 2026.The Yankees’ first full-squad workout at George M. Steinbrenner Field took place on February 17, 2026.
The players

Aaron Judge

The captain and back-to-back AL MVP of the Yankees, who has a close relationship with team owner Hal Steinbrenner.

Cody Bellinger

An impact player who the Yankees re-signed in the offseason, and who can play multiple positions and hit in the middle of the order.

Paul Goldschmidt

A veteran MVP-caliber player who the Yankees brought back, and who can help elevate the team’s young core, especially in the infield.

Trent Grisham

The Yankees’ center fielder who had a breakout year and is another key returning piece for the team.

Gerrit Cole

The Yankees’ ace pitcher who will join the roster later in the season and further strengthen the team.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›
What they’re saying

“Early on, it was pretty tough to watch. I’m like, ‘Man, we’re the New York Yankees, let’s go out there and get the right people, get the right pieces to go out there and finish this thing off.’”

— Aaron Judge, Yankees right fielder (New York Post)

“People might have their opinions on it because we didn’t win it all last year, we fell short in the division series. But we get a chance to bring a lot of those guys back, they’re impact players.”

— Aaron Judge, Yankees right fielder (New York Post)

What’s next

The Yankees will continue their spring training preparations as they look to build on last season’s playoff run and finally capture an elusive World Series championship.

The takeaway

Despite the frustration of a quiet early offseason, Aaron Judge is embracing the Yankees’ ‘run it back’ approach, believing the team’s core group of impact players can get them over the top and deliver the franchise’s first World Series title since 2009.