Yankees reporter critiques team for 'crazy idea' regarding star slugger

Nothing that occurred during spring training erased concerns had by New York Yankees reporters such as Bob Klapisch and Randy Miller of NJ Advance Media regarding slugger Aaron Judge patrolling center field following the offseason acquisition of All-Star outfielder Juan Soto. 

For the outlet's 2024 season preview, Klapisch wrote that having the 6-foot-7, 282-pound Judge routinely play center is "a crazy idea" and "an injury list waiting to happen" for the team captain who turns 32 years old next month. 

"There are just too many physical demands on a center fielder who’s played most of his career in right and has often been injured," Klapisch explained. "...That’s why the Yankees need to manage his playing time carefully. Otherwise, we’re looking at the possibility of a breakdown by late summer. And even if he’s not injured, the daily grind could become a factor over the summer months."

Klapisch and Miller aren't alone. Former Yankees hitting coach Sean Casey, team play-by-play announcer Michael Kay, retired Gold Glove center fielder Lorenzo Cain and Yankees legend Bernie Williams are among those who voiced similar concerns even before Judge dealt with what became a curious core injury in March. 

The Bronx Bombers hope that issue won't arise again this spring or summer, as they likely haven't forgotten what happened last June when they improved to 35-25 the same day Judge suffered a torn ligament in his big right toe. 

He ultimately missed nearly two months of action because of that setback, and the Yankees finished the campaign out of the American League playoff spots. 

"You’re taking your best player, the face of the franchise, the player who probably sells more tickets than anyone in baseball outside of maybe Shohei Ohtani, and making him move for Soto, who will be gone in a year," Miller added (Soto is on track to reach free agency this fall). "I like Judge in right. That’s his best position even though he can handle center. Also, I’ve seen Judge wearing ice packs on his knees after games." 

As of Thursday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Yankees tied for fourth among the betting favorites at +1100 odds to win the World Series. If Klapisch and Miller are right about the Judge decision going poorly, logic suggests New York's World Series drought that began after the 2009 Fall Classic will continue through at least the summer of 2025. 

"His knees are creakier," Klapisch said about the 2022 AL Most Valuable Player. "So unless the Yankees are careful, the potential for breakdown is real."