PHILADELPHIA — Aaron Boone had no notable updates on New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge in his pregame media availability at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday, July 25.
But what he did disclose to reporters was that he doesn't believe the outlook on Judge's return from a stress fracture of the first rib on his right side will sway the Yankees' aggressiveness at the MLB trade deadline
on Aug. 3 one way or another."I don't think so, because I think we all expect him back," Boone said before the second game of the Yankees' three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Aaron Judge injury update: Latest on New York Yankees slugger
Judge has been sidelined since May 31 against the Athletics and was transferred to
the 60-day injured list on July 18.
Coming off his second consecutive AL MVP award, Judge was hitting .248 at the plate with 17 home runs and 38 RBIs in 59 games before his injury.
At the time of his placement on the injured list on June 5, the Yankees said Judge's injury would require a period of "rest and limited activity." The team said he would be out through at least the All-Star Break with a reexamination timeline of four to six weeks from the date he was placed on the list and that he is "expected to return sometime this season."
"I know in my conversations with him before I came on the trip, he felt quite a bit better and was encouraged with how he was feeling," Boone said on Saturday when asked if Judge is still feeling his injury. " I know he's been obviously rehabbing at home, and I think he's coming down here maybe tomorrow.
"But yeah, we're just in that still letting it heal to the end (stage)."
Aaron Boone talks Yankees trade deadline
USA TODAY Sports' Bob Nightengalethinks the Yankees will be among the more aggressive teams, with top priorities including the Twins' Ryan Jeffers, San Diego Padres All-Star closer Mason Miller and finding another bat.
Boone told reporters on Saturday that he hasn't had many conversations with Yankees general manager Brian Cashman in the last few days, but did mention it feels the Yankees' needs are a "little bit different" going into this year's deadline after acquiring complementary pieces — such as landing a couple of bullpen and platoon pieces — that "completed and finished off" the roster.
"We're all quiet on the western front right now. I think it's probably just league-wise (too)," Boone said. "Kind of that calm before the storm. I would imagine conversations are going on between clubs. But again, you're talking about still a number of clubs that probably don't even know what they're going to do one way or another.
"So it still got to define itself here over the next several days. So I would imagine those conversations start to heat up in the next week, and hopefully that allows us to do something that ultimately helps us."
The Yankees look to add to their second-best record in the American League on Saturday against the Phillies at 6:05 p.m. ET by picking up the series win and their 59th win of the season.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will Aaron Judge's injury impact Yankees' deadline? Boone doesn't think so
