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The elimination of the Yankees reopened a conversation that is repeated every October in New York: What does this organization have to change to win a World Series again?
This time, the message did not come only from the fans or from the media.
It also came directly from the captain.
Aaron Judge asked the Yankees management to go with everything during the offseason and make the necessary moves to correct the weaknesses of a team that fell short again in October.
In a new edition of The Yankists, Edwin Morel and Daniel Cuevas analyzed the captain's statements, the future of Aaron Boone, the decisions that Brian Cashman will have to make and the changes that New York needs for the 2027 season.
Aaron Judge sends a direct message to management
Judge did not hide his frustration after the elimination against Tampa Bay.
The Yankees finished the regular season with 93 wins and again reached October with championship aspirations, but the Rays swept them through three games during the divisional series.
For Judge, simply building a winning team during the regular season may not be enough.
The Yankees standard has to be to compete for the World Series.
That is why the captain made it clear that he hopes that the organization will identify its weaknesses and seek solutions during the winter.
If they need players, they should look for them.
If they need to modify certain areas of the roster, they have to do it.
And if there are decisions related to personnel or structure, they should also be evaluated.
Yankists analyze the true meaning of the message
During the program, Edwin Morel and Daniel Cuevas analyzed that Judge's words have a different weight precisely to come from the captain and main figure of the franchise.
It's not just a frustrated star after a loss.
Judge signed in the long term with New York with the intention of competing for championships.
Your message places pressure directly on the main office.
The Yankees continue to reach the postseason and are still a competitive team, but that has not been enough to end the championship drought.
The last World Series won by the franchise continues to be the 2009 one.
For a team with the history and resources of the Yankees, that wait is increasingly difficult to justify.
Judge also supports Aaron Boone
One of the most interesting parts of Judge's statements was his support for Aaron Boone.
Despite the criticism that the leader receives every time the Yankees are eliminated, Judge considers that Boone continues to put the team in position to compete.
The captain highlighted the way Boone handled a complicated season, especially with major injuries and with Judge out for a significant part of the schedule.
Within the clubhouse there are also players who have publicly defended the leader.
Cam Schlittler expressed his trust in Boone and highlighted the relationship he has with his players.
That creates an interesting situation.
Outside the clubhouse there is strong pressure to make changes.
Within the team, several of the main figures continue to support the manager.
Should Aaron Boone continue in 2027?
That was one of the great debates within the Yankists.
Edwin Morel and Daniel Cuevas analyzed whether keeping Boone represents stability or if, after nine seasons without getting a championship, the organization needs a different voice.
Boone has consistently won during the regular season.
He has taken the Yankees to multiple postseason appearances.
He also reached the World Series in 2024.
But the final goal remains pending.
And in New York, winning a lot of games doesn't take the pressure off when the championship never comes.
Brian Cashman also enters the conversation
The decisions are not solely dependent on Aaron Boone.
Brian Cashman will once again be at the center of a very important offseason for the franchise.
The roster has high-level pieces, but there are also areas that need to be reviewed.
The defense was inconsistent during important moments.
The offensive disappeared again during several games in October.
The depth of the roster was tested for injuries.
And some important players will come to free agency.
Judge understands that it is not realistic to sign or exchange for all the great players available.
But he also made it clear that he expects an aggressive organization when there are obvious needs.
Alex Rodríguez also asks for changes
The conversation does not end with Judge.
Alex Rodríguez also publicly expressed that he considers it necessary to change certain things around the Yankees.
His approach was related not only to names, but also to the philosophy of the team.
For Rodriguez, New York needs to evaluate how he is building his rosters, how he handles certain situations, and what kind of players he needs to better compete in October.
His opinion coincides with a feeling that exists among many fans.
It's not just about adding another star.
It's about building a more complete team.
The Yankees have important decisions with their free agents
Winter can greatly modify the roster.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. is among the important names that can hit the market.
Trent Grisham will also have to define his future.
David Bednar represents another relevant decision for the bullpen.
And there are other veterans whose return is not guaranteed either.
Each of those decisions will affect how New York distributes its resources.
The Yankees will have to decide which players are really part of the next attempt to win a championship.
The new young core can change the construction of the equipment
One of the differences with respect to previous seasons is that the Yankees already have young people who began to settle in the big leagues.
Ben Rice has become an important offensive piece.
Cam Schlittler showed that it can be a central part of the rotation.
George Lombard Jr. received important responsibilities during the final stretch and the postseason.
Spencer Jones also showed tools that can make him an important player if he continues to develop.
That offers the organization an opportunity.
Instead of building exclusively around large contracts, New York can combine Judge and veterans with a new generation of internally developed players.
Judge needs help during his championship window
Another of the points discussed in the Yankees was the moment of Aaron Judge's career.
The captain continues to be the face of the team, but each passing season reduces the time available to build a champion around him.
New York cannot assume that he will have Judge indefinitely playing at the superstar level.
That is why the 2027 decisions acquire so much importance.
The Yankees need to take advantage of this stage of their career.
That means giving the lineup depth.
improve defense.
maintain a competitive rotation.
Build a deep bullpen.
And avoid relying exclusively on judge to solve offensive problems.
The Yankistas: Winning 93 games can't be enough
from the perspective of The Yankists, this is probably the central point of the entire debate.
The Yankees won 93 games.
That shows that we are not talking about a bad team.
But they were also swept by Tampa Bay when the most important moment of the season came.
Both things can be true at the same time.
The organization may have built a competitive team and still need changes.
The standard can't simply turn into October.
For the Yankees, the goal must continue to be reaching the end.
Not everything has to change, but something has to improve
Edwin Morel and Daniel Cuevas also analyzed that asking for changes does not necessarily mean completely destroying the roster.
The Yankees have pieces that must be maintained.
They have a deep rotation.
They have interesting young people.
They have one of the best baseball batters at Aaron Judge.
The challenge is to correctly identify which areas are preventing that talent from becoming a championship.
The answer could be in defense.
It could be in the type of hitters around Judge.
It could be in the construction of the bullpen.
It could be in certain Roster decisions.
Or it might require a combination of all those factors.
The pressure now starts for the Yankees
The season is over, but work for 2027 began immediately.
Aaron Judge has already made clear what he expects.
He wants an organization that attacks his weaknesses.
He wants a team built to win in October.
And he also wants Aaron Boone to continue directing him.
Now the responsibility passes to Hal Steinbrenner, Brian Cashman and the rest of the main office.
During the next few months we will see if the captain's message becomes important movements.
Because after another elimination, the question is no longer whether the Yankees can build a winning team.
They already showed that they can do it.
The real question is if they can finally build a champion team.