The Yankees need to put their foot down here.
As Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees potentially approach the end of their summer swoon, we bring excellent news: they may have finally found their first baseman of the future.
No, we’re not talking about Ben Rice, who has spent the last month platooning between catcher and first. Former NL MVP Cody Bellinger previously played first base with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but he’s been a full-time outfielder since 2019 — and he could command a lofty multi-year deal in free agency.
Instead, Judge and the Yankees need to accept that the best course of action moving forward is for the two-time AL MVP to man first base beginning in 2026.
If you’re out of the loop, Judge’s outfield days sound numbered as is. Yankees manager Aaron Boone told WFAN on Tuesday that he’s skeptical Judge, who is recovering from an elbow injury, will throw at his regular strength again this season. In other words, prepare to see Judge as the everyday DH and Giancarlo Stanton regularly playing right field, assuming that both stay healthy.
Judge and Stanton are both under contract for 2026 and beyond, and there’s no reason to believe the Yankees will cut ties with Stanton this winter. Given Stanton’s injury history and recent soreness playing the outfield, he’ll likely resume his role as the regular DH next spring.
Stanton’s presence leaves the Yankees with two options: keep Judge in right field or move him to first base. Paul Goldschmidt almost certainly isn’t coming back next year, and Rice could theoretically take Austin Wells’ starting catcher job. Given the Yankees’ roster construction, moving Judge to first certainly sounds better than signing Mets star Pete Alonso or acquiring Brewers slugger Rhys Hoskins.
It’s fair to wonder if Judge would resist that move ahead of his age-34 season. Legendary Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, the club’s previous captain before Judge, admitted in 2014 that he’d previously considered becoming a full-time first baseman or DH if the club needed him to do so.
Jeter, as we know, stayed at shortstop until the very end. We’ll see whether the same holds true for Judge, or if he’s indeed wearing a first baseman’s glove in spring training.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 19, 2025, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Category: Baseball
