Judge Underfire For Stepping In To Protect His Teammate

The Yankees’ front office is catching some heat after reports surfaced that team captain Aaron Judge stepped in to block a roster move involving DJ LeMahieu. According to multiple sources, the Yankees were on the verge of designating LeMahieu for assignment last season, but Judge, along with other veteran players, intervened, insisting that the veteran infielder still had plenty of value if healthy.

Eric Hubbs of Barstool Sports broke the story, saying: “Yankees were prepared to designate DJ LeMahieu for assignment when Jasson Domínguez was called up, but Aaron Judge and other vets stepped in to prevent the move.” And honestly? Good. That’s what leadership looks like. That’s what having your teammate’s back looks like. But instead of recognizing this as a prime example of team chemistry and respect, some critics are clutching their pearls, crying about how Judge overstepped by influencing the front office. Give me a break.

Let’s be real here—big-time players influence decisions all the time. The same people complaining that players shouldn’t meddle in front-office decisions are the first ones to celebrate when a star player helps recruit a big free agent. You can’t have it both ways. 

The front office isn’t in that dugout every day. They aren’t grinding through 162 games alongside these guys. The players see firsthand who still has something left in the tank, and Judge clearly believes LeMahieu does. If DJ was truly washed, Judge wouldn’t have put his neck on the line for him. Simple as that.

Now, is LeMahieu coming off a brutal season? Absolutely. There’s no sugarcoating the fact that he was one of the least productive hitters in baseball in 2024. But let’s not act like injuries didn’t play a major role in his struggles. The guy isn’t some random benchwarmer—he’s a former MVP candidate with a track record of success. To completely write him off because of one down year is ridiculous, especially when he still has two years left on his contract. How many times have we seen great players bounce back after an injury-riddled season? The Yankees front office should know better than anyone that talent doesn’t just vanish overnight.

And let’s not forget, the majority of Yankees fans—probably around 80%—still believe in LeMahieu. They know he’s capable of rebounding. More importantly, so does Judge. His leadership has never been in question, and the fact that he was willing to go to bat for his teammate speaks volumes about both his character and the kind of clubhouse culture the Yankees should want to build.

So, for all the critics whining about Judge stepping in—maybe take a step back and realize this is what leadership looks like. If the Yankees are going to be a winning team, they need that unity. And if LeMahieu goes out and proves everyone wrong in 2025? 

You’re going to owe Judge an apology.