Ahead of the Yankees’ final matchup against the Rays at Tropicana Field for the season, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman met the media to discuss all things Yankees. Cashman is in Tampa for the upcoming MLB draft and took the time to give some big updates.<\/p>\n
It’s clear with the Yankees’ recent stretch of losing that the Yankees are missing their two biggest sources of power in the lineup. Cashman was able to provide some updates on both Giancarlo Stanton<\/a> and Aaron Judge<\/a>.<\/p>\n After being sidelined with a rib injury<\/a>, Judge will be reimagined next week during the All-Star Break, according to Cashman. That is at about the six-week mark as originally projected. Cashman also predicts the imaging to not come back fully clean, but the team is looking for it to come back clean enough to see if he can begin to ramp up some activities.<\/p>\n Cashman said that last month when Stanton suffered what we all thought was a setback, it was a whole new injury. Cashman told the media that it was still a calf strain, but in a different part of the muscle. Stanton has received a PRP injection and resumed his running program.<\/p>\n Before the presser with Cashman, manager Aaron Boone said that Yankees top prospect George Lombard Jr.<\/a> is getting close to returning to action in AAA Scranton after a finger injury. Cashman was asked during his presser; he said that Lombard Jr. “might be a choice at some point” in the second half. “Cashman added that Lombard Jr. is ready defensively, as he’s said in the past, and has closed the gap offensively. With the current Yankees shortstop situation, Lombard Jr. could be a boost to the Yankees lineup.<\/span><\/p>\n The Yankees catchers have not produced a lick this season. Austin Wells<\/a> has a 33 WRC+ this season. He had a good day in the series finale in Tampa, but over the season as a whole, he’s really hurt the team more than he’s helped the team. Cashman called the Yankees’ catching situation an \u201cissue, clearly.\u201d The Yankees will be on the marketplace looking for a catcher, with the prime target for the team being the Twins’ Ryan Jeffers<\/a>, according to reports.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n The Yankees are going to look for external help, even if it’s not Jeffers, but the deadline is still a month out.<\/p>\n The Yankees are becoming known for their summer swoons. That has not changed this season. They took two out of four games in Tampa this week, which was impressive considering how well the team has struggled and how well the Rays typically perform at Tropicana Field. Cashman still has belief in Boone and his managing abilities, saying to The Athletic<\/a>, Boone “does a great job.”\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cNothing different than what I\u2019ve always seen in him. ” Cashman added. “I think he\u2019s a very hard worker, very well connected. I think he\u2019s prepared. I think he\u2019s pulling every lever he possibly can. Nothing more than I\u2019ve said before.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Boone has definitely had a better season managing than in years past, which is helped by the alternate options on the bench, provided by Cashman and the front office. The Yankees’ bullpen has also been much better<\/a> than some (including myself) give them credit for. Boone has done his job for the most part this season.<\/p>\n Where the frustration with Boone comes is the mid-summer slumps the Yanekes have endured since 2022, where the team forgets how to play baseball as soon as summer arrives. Whether it’s injuries or overall poor performance, the Yankees have shown they have issues in the summer. Cashman gave Boone the vote of confidence and saw the Yankees score 12 runs Thursday, one night after Boone was ejected in a fiery fashion (maybe to spark his club).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Video of the ejections pic.twitter.com\/GnNGW9ZD2f<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Matthew Nethercott (@MattNethercott_) July 9, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nUpdate on Lombard Jr.<\/h2>\n
The Catching Situation<\/h2>\n
A Vote of Confidence<\/h2>\n
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