The New York Yankees have dug a big hole against the Toronto Blue Jays, but they still have a chance to get out of it. The series will shift to the Bronx for Tuesday’s game, with the Yankees trailing 2-0, and anticipation is growing for a must-win game. A relatively early playoff exit would be a significant disappointment, especially since superstar slugger Aaron Judge has had another tremendous personal season.
“The Division Series is not over, but the Yankees are one loss away from another season of failing to win a title with Aaron Judge at the peak of his powers,” Ken Rosenthal told The Athletic.
Even if the Yankees lose to the Blue Jays, they will most likely restock and recalibrate their championship expectations over the winter. However, the highest-paid players surrounding Judge, including as Giancarlo Stanton and Gerrit Cole, have struggled with injuries that may become more common as time passes. When asked about his future with the Yankees while the team is on the verge of a title, Cole was clear about his level of urgency. “I’m not concerned,” Cole told Rosenthal. “The Yankees’ track record of putting a club out there with the ability to make the playoffs every year, advance deep into the playoffs, and win the World Series is rather impressive.
You named a few of the aging players. “We also have a lot of good young players.” With budding talents like Ben Rice and Cam Schlittler expected to contribute even more next season, Cole has good cause to be excited about returning to a championship-caliber group. However, with Judge wrapping up another Most Valuable Player Award-caliber season, the Yankees must believe that their prospects of winning it all cannot improve any further than they were at the start of this season.
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