Yankees Injury Update: Aaron Judge rib, Max Fried elbow, Giancarlo Stanton's status

Wednesday was an eventful day for the New York Yankees as Hal Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman sat before reporters (well, via Zoom, anyway), followed by Aaron Boone. The trio's press conferences brought plenty of revelations (including Cashman's new deal), as well as injury updates on key Yankees players Aaron Judge, Max Fried, and Giancarlo Stanton.

We'll start with Judge, who took a dig from Steinbrenner on Wednesday when the owner not-so-subtly suggested that his superstar slugger fell below the expectations of a dutiful employee at the end of the campaign. But anyway ... how's Judge's body (that kept him out of the postseason) feeling these days?

Aaron Judge scheduled for follow-up appointment regarding rib injury; expected to be ready for Spring Training

Cashman revealed that Judge has a follow-up appointment scheduled with Dr. Gregory Pearl to inspect the healing process of the rib injury that cost Judge the bulk of the 2026 regular season. Cashman reiterated his prior stance that Judge wasn't physically capable of competing in the postseason, while also asserting that the offseason should allow Judge to heal fully, rest, and be ready for 2027.

Max Fried won't need surgery to address bone bruises

According to Boone on Wednesday, no Yankees player is in need of surgery this offseason, including Judge and Fried, the latter of whom increasingly suffered from left elbow bone bruises in 2026. Fried recently had the elbow re-imaged (per Boone), and the ligament is apparently in a good place.

Fried did undergo Tommy John surgery back in 2014, which presented a reason to fear that his recurring elbow problem this season might lead to another going-under-the-knife. He spent two separate stints on the IL this season (in May and August) for the same bone bruise issue. But according to Boone, Fried is all in the clear heading into the winter!

Giancarlo Stanton is healthy, but his future Yankees role sounds uncertain

Of course Stanton is healthy now that the Yankees' season isn't happening! Stanton appeared in just 24 games out of 162 for the Yanks in the 2026 due to multiple calf ailments. He made a couple of cameos as a pinch hitter in the postseason but wasn't able to deliver (not an easy ask, given how much time he spent away from game action).

Beyond discussing Stanton's health status, Cashman also interestingly noted that the Yankees' designated hitter spot is up for grabs. It sounds like the Yankees have finally opened themselves up to the possibility that Stanton should be cast aside ... or at least not prioritized.

The 36-year-old slugger is entering the final guaranteed year of his contract in 2027. The Yankees figure to have something of a logjam at DH if Stanton remains healthy. Ben Rice, Luis García Jr. (provided he's still on the team), and Judge will all needs reps at DH next season.

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