By Aaliyan MohammedShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberThe New York Yankees are lucky enough to have one of the best players of this generation in Aaron Judge. He is signed to a deal through 2031, and eventually, the Yankees may want to consider moving him out of the outfield.
Judge is 33 years old, and in the past, superstar outfielders have made the move to first base as they age. Recently, Bryce Harper moved to first base following elbow surgery. Harer was 30 when he started playing first base regularly. While moving Judge to first base down the line is not out of question, The Athletic's Chris Kirschner noted the Yankees will not be moving him there at this time.
"There’s no reason to start a transition plan for Judge to play first base," wrote Kirschner. "He’s still an elite defender in right field; Judge finished in the top five in outs above average last season among all right fielders. Unless he required offseason elbow surgery, which he didn’t, then it makes no sense to move him. There will likely come a point when Judge’s athleticism declines, but he has not reached that stage. Until then, he’ll continue playing right field for the Yankees."
...The Yankees are in an intriguing spot with Judge. He is by far the most important player on their team, and as he ages, they may feel the risk of injury in the outfield is greater. However, he is still a solid defender, and the Yankees do not have the luxury of locking Judge into the designated hitter spot as long as Giancarlo Stanton is in the Bronx.
Any injury to Judge would derail the Yankees' season. Moving him to first base would lessen the risk of injury, but the Yankees have no reason to make the move just yet. If Judge suffers an injury that ruins his throwing ability or his defense declines as a whole, the Yankees will need to make a move. However, that time is not right now.
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