RADIO
Aaron Judge Expected to Hit in the Cages on Tuesday
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (rib) is expected to hit in the batting cages on Tuesday, manager Aaron Boone told Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. Judge has been doing tee-and-toss, so Boone expects the slugger to move to overhand batting practice. It is the next progression for the 34-year-old veteran after he resumed a hitting progression last week. The three-time MVP and eight-time All-Star has been out since May 31 with a stress fracture in his rib, and he is still likely several weeks from making his return to the Yankees' starting lineup, so fantasy managers must continue to be patient. Before the injury in the first half of the season, Judge was hitting .248/.375/.533 with a .907 OPS, 17 home runs, 38 RBI, 43 runs scored, and five stolen bases in 59 games and 261 plate appearances. The Yankees would love to have both Judge and Giancarlo Stanton (calf) back for the stretch run in September, but it looks like it will only be Judge returning. It has been a frustrating year to have Judge rostered in fantasy, but he could still do plenty of damage at the plate in the final month of the season if he is fully recovered from his rib injury.
Source: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch
Source: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch
Giancarlo Stanton Suffers Setback While Rehabbing
According to Joel Sherman, New York Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton (calf) suffered a setback when he strained his other calf while running the bases over the weekend. Stanton has been out since late April due to a strained right calf. Now, he suffered a left calf injury after falling during a recent baserunning session. The Yankees haven't ruled out Stanton for the rest of the season, but it's difficult to imagine him making an impact over the final five weeks of the season. Fantasy managers shouldn't count on Stanton bringing much of anything to the table for the rest of the season.
Source: Joel Sherman
Source: Joel Sherman
Cody Bellinger to Return on Sunday
New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger (hamstring) is set to return from the 10-day Injured List on Sunday, according to Chris Kirschner. Bellinger is finally ready to return and will be back in the lineup ahead of Sunday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays. The left-handed slugger missed a month of action due to a left hamstring strain. The banged-up Yankees' offense could certainly use Bellinger's help right now. This season, Bellinger is slashing .259/.350/.420 with 11 home runs, 53 RBI, and 10 stolen bases across 102 games. He should immediately reclaim the starting gig in left field and should be rostered in all fantasy formats.
Source: Chris Kirschner
Source: Chris Kirschner
Cody Bellinger Could Return to the Yankees on Sunday
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that outfielder Cody Bellinger (hamstring) will play in a minor league rehab game on Thursday and could return to the big leagues as soon as Sunday, per the Talkin' Yanks podcast. Bellinger has been sidelined since late July due to a hamstring strain. Across 434 plate appearances before the injury, the 31-year-old slashed .259/.350/.420 with 11 home runs, 53 RBI, 52 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases. Bellinger's power production had tailed off significantly before he went down, as he did not record a single home run across 78 plate appearances in July. The veteran outfielder has also been caught six times in 16 stolen base attempts this season and may not look to run much upon his return from a hamstring ailment. Still, Bellinger should provide balanced production for fantasy managers once healthy. His return will likely lead to reduced playing time and/or a demotion to Triple-A for Yankees outfielder Spencer Jones.
Source: Talkin' Yanks
Source: Talkin' Yanks
Aaron Judge to Begin Hitting Progression This Week
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (rib) will begin a hitting progression this week, manager Aaron Boone told Chris Kirschner of The Athletic. Judge had already been playing catch and running, but this is a big step in his recovery from a stress fracture in his rib that has kept him sidelined since late May. However, there remains no timetable for the three-time MVP's return from the 60-day injured list, and he will almost certainly require a minor-league rehab stint before being activated. It means that fantasy managers should not necessarily expect him to be back with the Yankees before the end of August. The 34-year-old veteran hit .248 (53-for-214) with 17 home runs, 38 RBI, 43 runs scored, and five stolen bases across 59 games and 261 plate appearances in 2026 before his rib injury. Judge should not be floating around on any waiver wires in fantasy leagues, even though he might not return until September.
Source: The Athletic - Chris Kirschner
Source: The Athletic - Chris Kirschner
Cody Bellinger to Start a Rehab Assignment on Thursday
New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger (hamstring) will start a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Thursday, according to Chris Kirschner of The Athletic. Bellinger thinks he will play at least one more game after that, but it is still undetermined. If Bellinger avoids any setbacks with his hamstring, he could rejoin the big-league lineup as early as this weekend during the home series against the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays. The 31-year-old left-handed slugger has not been as good in 2026 as he was last year in his first season in the Bronx, but the Yankees will welcome him back with open arms as they look for more offense down the stretch. Bellinger will be returning to a .259/.350/.420 slash line with a .770 OPS, 11 home runs, 53 RBI, 10 stolen bases, and 52 runs scored in his 374 at-bats in 2026. The former MVP and three-time All-Star remains rostered in 95% of Yahoo leagues for his power/speed abilities in the outfield.
Source: The Athletic - Chris Kirschner
Source: The Athletic - Chris Kirschner
Cody Bellinger Could Be Activated Next Weekend
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said on Sunday that outfielder Cody Bellinger (hamstring) is scheduled to play in minor-league rehab games on Tuesday and Thursday, likely with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and he could be activated from the 10-day injured list by next weekend, according to Erik Boland of Newsday Sports. The Yankees are desperate for more offense, so Bellinger will be a welcome addition to the lineup with both Aaron Judge (rib) and Giancarlo Stanton (calf) still on the shelf. Although the 31-year-old veteran left-handed slugger hasn't been nearly as good as he was in his first year in the Bronx in 2025, Bellinger still can be a difference-maker for fantasy managers down the stretch with his bat, which is why he's still rostered in 95% of Yahoo leagues. When he returns from the IL, Bellinger will be coming back to a .259/.350/.420 slash line with a .770 OPS, 11 home runs, 53 RBI, 10 stolen bases, and 52 runs scored in his 102 games and 434 plate appearances. The three-time All-Star belted 29 homers and drove in 98 runs in 152 regular-season games last year with New York. UPDATE: Bellinger will start his rehab assignment on Thursday or Friday.
Source: Newsday Sports - Erik Boland
Source: Newsday Sports - Erik Boland
Aaron Judge Resumes Throwing, Could Return in a Month
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (ribs) was cleared to throw and began playing catch on Friday. Manager Aaron Boone said that while there is still some healing that needs to be done in Judge's ribs, and while nothing is set in stone, it is still possible for him to return within one month's time. Whether or not that happens remains to be seen, as he still has a lot of work to do before he can be considered for a return during the regular season. Progressing to playing catch and throwing signifies a big step forward, but with the fractured rib still needing time to heal, this one-month timeline may be too optimistic. For fantasy purposes, his upside remains too elite to drop, especially if he has been rostered and stashed on team rosters this entire time. That being said, the Yankees view his health and return as more important for the playoffs than the regular season, so they will continue to tread lightly while he continues to heal.
Source: Gary Phillips
Source: Gary Phillips
Cody Bellinger Runs Bases Again at Yankee Stadium
New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger (hamstring) was seen running the bases on Wednesday for the second straight day at Yankee Stadium to test out his injured left hamstring, according to Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record. Bellinger hasn't been running at full speed, but he's close. The left-handed slugger has already taken on-field batting practice and done some shagging work in the outfield, and he appears to be nearing a minor-league rehab assignment as he tries to return since landing on the 10-day injured list in late July with a hamstring strain. Barring a setback once Bellinger plays in minor-league games, he could return to the Yankees' starting lineup by late August or early September. The 31-year-old former MVP and three-time All-Star is a lineup regular in the Bronx when he's healthy, and he'll be returning to a .259/.350/.420 slash line with a .770 OPS, 11 home runs, 53 RBI, 52 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases. Bellinger's second year with the Yanks certainly has not been as fruitful as his first, when he hit 29 homers, drove in 98 runs, and stole 13 bases in 152 regular-season games.
Source: The Bergen Record - Pete Caldera
Source: The Bergen Record - Pete Caldera
Cody Bellinger Taking Batting Practice, "Feeling Good"
New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger (hamstring) took on-field batting practice on Aug. 5, his first time doing so since he was diagnosed with a Grade 2 hamstring strain on July 27, per MLB.com. "I'm feeling good," Bellinger said on Aug. 8. "I feel like I'm right on track." Bellinger was placed on the 10-day injured list on July 26. It's unclear when the 31-year-old veteran will be reinstated to the major-league roster, but he has also been doing running and throwing as he recovers from his hamstring injury. The initial expectation was that the left-handed slugger would miss four to six weeks, so barring a setback as he continues to ramp up, he could return to the Yankees before the end of August. A short minor-league assignment will probably be necessary because of his extended absence. Bellinger's return will be much-anticipated for the Bronx Bombers, even though the three-time All-Star has been a bit of a disappointment in 2026 with a .259/.350/.420 slash line, 11 home runs, 53 RBI, 10 steals, and 52 runs scored across his 102 games and 434 plate appearances in his second year with the Yanks.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Giancarlo Stanton Resumes Jogging
New York Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton (calf) took part in some jogging on Friday as a way to reintroduce him to base running. The 36-year-old has been out of action since the end of April with what was diagnosed as a low-grade calf strain and has suffered through various setbacks and shutdown periods along the way. As such, the team has been cautious when handling his progress so as not to suffer any more setbacks and to have him and his bat ready for the playoffs. He did face live pitching last week when he went up against Carlos Rodón, signaling yet another step closer to a return. Still, with an extensive injury history such as his, coupled with the amount of time he has been away from action, it's hard to imagine him having much time left in the season to make an impact for fantasy baseball managers.
Source: Bryan Hoch
Source: Bryan Hoch
Heliot Ramos Carries Power Upside on the Waiver Wire Following Trade to New York
Newly acquired New York Yankees outfielder Heliot Ramos appears likely to be heavily relied upon in his new home, as he's started in left field and batted cleanup in each of his first two games with the team. With Yankees outfielders Aaron Judge (ribs), Cody Bellinger (hamstring), and Giancarlo Stanton (calf) all on the injured list, Ramos has a clear path to an everyday role. Across 310 plate appearances on the year (mostly with the San Francisco Giants), Ramos is hitting .260/.300/.418 with nine home runs, 34 RBI, 36 runs scored, and three stolen bases. The 26-year-old has below-average plate skills, as he's walked in just 5.2% of his plate appearances while logging a 26.8% strikeout rate. However, Ramos' underlying contact metrics suggest high-end power, as he's posted a 13.3% barrel rate and a 48.1% hard-hit rate. Now that he's playing his home games in Yankee Stadium instead of San Francisco's pitcher-friendly Oracle Park, Ramos could be poised for a late-season power surge. He's a priority waiver-wire target in leagues where he's not already rostered.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Aaron Judge "Cleared" to Start "Light" Activities
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that outfielder Aaron Judge (rib) has been "cleared" to start "light" activities, including running and upper-body "resistance" work in the weight room, according to Erik Boland of Newsday. It represents significant progress from where Judge had been while rehabbing a stress fracture of the first rib on his right side since June 5. Judge is currently on the 60-day injured list without a timetable for a return, but fantasy managers have to be a little excited with this update on his progress, even though he still has plenty of boxes to check before returning to the big-league lineup. The Yankees are optimistic that the three-time MVP will return before the season is over, but fantasy managers probably won't be getting him back until the final month of the regular season in September in a best-case scenario. In an attempt to bolster the Yankees' offense with Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Giancarlo Stanton on the IL, the team traded for infielder Luis Garcia Jr. and outfielder Heliot Ramos at the deadline this summer.
Source: Newsday - Erik Boland
Source: Newsday - Erik Boland
Cody Bellinger Continues to Make Progress
New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger (hamstring) continues to make progress and has performed outdoor running drills while also hitting and throwing, manager Aaron Boone said on Aug. 2. Bellinger was diagnosed with a Grade 2 left-hamstring strain on July 27 and is expected to miss four to six weeks of action. He's currently on the 10-day injured list, with an expected return of late August or early September. With Aaron Judge (rib) and Giancarlo Stanton (calf) also still sidelined, the Yankees went out and acquired outfielder Heliot Ramos from the San Francisco Giants on Monday to help give the team some more outfield depth as they push for a playoff spot down the stretch. Even though the 31-year-old Bellinger has a ways to go before returning to the big-league roster, he should be stashed in an IL spot in all fantasy leagues. The former MVP and three-time All-Star was slashing .259/.350/.420 with a .770 OPS, 11 home runs, 53 RBI, 52 runs, and 10 stolen bases in his 374 at-bats in 2026 before injuring his hamstring.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Yankees Still Optimistic That Aaron Judge Will Return This Year
The New York Yankees remain optimistic that outfielder Aaron Judge (rib) will return before the end of the season, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. "We currently are still very optimistic that he's going to return, but there's challenges with all that too. There's a very high likelihood that he fits the time frame to come back and join us. That's what I'm hoping and holding onto," general manager Brian Cashman said. The Yankees need more pop and are currently 3.5 games out of first place in the American League East, but they aren't going to rush the 34-year-old All-Star back. Judge has not played for the Yankees since May 31 due to a fracture in his rib, and there is no specific timetable for his return, so fantasy managers must remain patient and hope it comes sooner rather than later. With Cody Bellinger and Giancarlo Stanton also still on the injured list, the Yankees traded for left-handed infielder Luis Garcia Jr. and outfielder Heliot Ramos at the deadline to help boost the offense. Before his injury, Judge was hitting .248/.375/.533 with a .907 OPS, 17 homers, 38 RBI, 43 runs, and five stolen bases in 214 at-bats. The three-time MVP should be stashed in all fantasy formats.
Source: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch
Source: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch
