AARON JUDGE IN HIS OWN WORDS ON THE STATE OF THE YANKEES RIGHT NOW

Jon Heyman is out here absolutely cooking this offseason. If you’re not reading his work in the New York Post, you’re missing out. The man is grinding daily, dropping must-read pieces left and right, and his latest? A fantastic interview with Yankees captain Aaron Judge, who gave a real look into the state of the Bombers as they battle through some brutal injuries.

And look, let’s just acknowledge this: Heyman is a veteran. He’s been around, he knows how to get the scoops, and whether you love his baseball takes or not, you can’t deny his work ethic. Meanwhile, guys like Keith McPherson? Please. Keith couldn’t hold Heyman’s water if he had a bucket with a lid. You remember when McPherson disrespected Heyman on his radio show? Read A LESSON IN RESPECT: MCPHERSON, HEYMAN & THE LINE YOU DON'T CROSS for that. Absolute clown show. That’s the difference between a respected journalist and a newbie who thinks he’s bigger than the game.

But back to business. Jon Heyman got some great quotes here. Here’s what Judge had to say about the Yankees’ injury woes and who he thinks is going to step up this season:

“You miss Gerrit Cole, one of the best pitchers in the game… Luis Gil, who emerged as probably our second-best starter last season… and Big G (Giancarlo Stanton) not being in there…”

Yeah, that’s not ideal. When you lose aces and big bats, it’s a problem. But Judge isn’t panicking:

“You can’t replace a Cole. You can’t replace a Luis Gil. But I think we’ve got some young guys who are going to step up. We’ve still got a good ballclub here.”

That’s the leadership you want to hear. No excuses, just a next-man-up mentality. And speaking of stepping up, Judge dropped some names on who he expects to take that next leap:

“I really think it’s a great opportunity for some of the young guys to step up. You can’t be a young guy forever. When you add guys like Paul Goldschmidt and Cody Bellinger to the mix, and you throw in someone like Max Fried, you’re looking at a solid core.”

And then he got into some specific guys who have been turning heads:

“We have Jazz Chisholm, Anthony Volpe, Austin Wells. What Ben Rice is doing, the adjustments he’s making are incredible to watch. And I love seeing Will Warren’s progress. He’s a guy who’s continuing to take that next step.”

That’s a lot of praise for some guys who need to deliver.  I don't know if Volpe and Wells really have what it takes or if they were just brought up real fast so fans would fall in love with them, but I'm not. It's not the same as when Aaron Judge made it to the big team.  Whatever the case listen, the Yankees have the talent, but with these injuries, it’s all about execution now.

Look, I don’t know about you, but I’m both hyped and terrified for Opening Day. On one hand, this team has depth and potential. On the other, injuries have already taken their toll. But one thing’s for sure—Jon Heyman is putting in the work to bring fans the best coverage out there. And if you don’t respect that? Well, maybe take a lesson in respect yourself. Right, Keith?