The arrival of Juan Soto and Alex Verdugo to the Yankees will force Aaron Judge to play center field on a daily basis. At least that's the plan right now.
Can the plan change? Obviously. An injury to Giancarlo Stanton, for example, could open up the go-to hitter position.
But right now, the Yankees are taking the gamble of using the captain in center.
What you need to know is that #99 agrees. He wants to help the team and he's a great center fielder, which is an asset.
But we must also understand that this is a mistake.
Everyone will tell you: playing center field is difficult on the body. This increases the risk of injury. And the Yankees are willing to take such a risk with Judge? Hmm…
In my eyes, it is illogical to believe that the Yankees chose to employ such a strategy with the star outfielder.
Ken Rosenthal actually wrote a paper on the subject in which he talks about the fact that normally, teams do the opposite with their stars.
Mookie Betts and Bryce Harper, right fielders, will play second and first base in 2024 for the Dodgers and Phillies.
I know, I know: Betts is doing it to help his club and Harper is doing it following Tommy John surgery. But still: they will play a less demanding position than right field.
Judge will do the opposite.
I'm not saying Judge should never play center. That said, moving him there full time isn't a good idea for a guy with an injury history.
What will happen if Soto falls in love with the Bronx and the Yankees roll out a red carpet for him? Judge going to play center forever? You know like I do that the answer is no.
The go-to hitter position is going to come into play one day for Judge and Soto, if the latter signs long-term in the Bronx. But both play the same position.
Why not teach the captain to play first base, then? In any case, in the long term, this is possibly what awaits him.
This way, he could slowly begin to familiarize himself with a new position. In 2024, he could play games at first base here and there, just to get him out of center.
A bit of games like DH, a bit at first base and a bit in the right, when it's free: here's a recipe that could help him keep his body healthy.
Judge is huge and the first baseman possibly awaits him one day. Why not get a little head start in 2024? Tall and athletic as he is, he would surely be very good.
