The one player Aaron Judge wants to return to the Yankees

As Major League Baseball’s winter free agency market heats up, the New York Yankees find themselves at a key crossroads. One of the most discussed stories in the Bronx revolves around outfielder Cody Bellinger, who has opted out of his contract and is testing the open market after a strong 2025 season.

But behind the scenes, reports suggest that Yankees captain Aaron Judge has emerged as one of the most prominent voices pushing for the club to bring him back. Writing in the NY Post, Jon Heyman said: “the Yankees have made him their priority and seem pretty confident that, unlike superstar Juan Soto, he won’t skip to Queens.”

Bellinger, a former National League MVP, revitalised his career during his one season with the Yankees. He hit .272 with 29 home runs and 98 runs batted in, and even stepping in at first base when needed.

The challenge for New York will be balancing financial imperatives with the desire to keep their core intact around Judge, particularly as the team continues to chase a long-elusive World Series title.

Judge’s backing matters because the Yankees are keen to avoid repeating last year’s disappointment when star slugger Juan Soto left the Bronx and signed with the rival New York Mets.

Cashman and others around the franchise reportedly feel confident this situation will not unfold the same way, due in part to Bellinger’s rapport with teammates and the fact he appears to enjoy the culture in New York.

“He was a terrific addition for us last year,” Cashman told Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. “He played a big role in the amount of success we wound up having. Certainly, we’d love to have him come back to us. We’d be better served if we can retain him, but if not, then we’ll have to look at alternative ways to fill it and see where that takes us. It’s pretty early in the process, but I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Of course we’d like to have him back.”

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