The Yankees Don't Deserve Aaron Judge

For me, the MVP race this year had the suspense level of a rerun—you know exactly how it ends, and somehow it’s still satisfying. Aaron Judge was the obvious pick to me, the neon-sign choice, the “don’t overthink it” candidate. The guy is the ultimate ballplayer, a human cheat code in pinstripes. Every time he steps onto the field, you’re watching baseball history stretch to 6-foot-7 and casually ruin a pitcher’s evening.

Judge didn’t just prove his value—he practically carved it into the side of Yankee Stadium. 53 home runs, a .331 average, and now his second straight MVP, third overall. At this point, he’s making MVPs look like Starbucks punch cards—collect ten, get your next one free.

And the man just joined Mickey Mantle and Jimmie Foxx as the only players to launch at least 50 homers and win a batting title in the same season. That’s not a club. That’s a museum exhibit. Judge, being Judge, shrugged it off with his usual modesty. “Keep your head down through all 162,” he said, standing beside his family—who, frankly, are probably better at situational hitting than half the roster.

He beat out Cal Raleigh and José Ramírez, earning 17 first-place votes. Raleigh grabbed 13, proving voters do indeed love a good nickname, but even the Big Dumper couldn’t dump Judge off the podium.

Now, here’s where it gets complicated—not for Judge, but for the Yankees. Because while Judge keeps stacking hardware like it’s garage sale season, he’d trade every last award for a championship ring. And who can blame him? The last time the Yankees won a title as a long time ago. Meanhile Aaron Boone is still basking in the glow of that one home run people won’t shut up about against the Red Sox that literally means nothing no. Since Boone became manager? Nothing. Nada. A perfectly curated collection of October heartbreaks.

We’re witnessing a once-in-a-generation talent wasting prime years in a franchise that still thinks “running it back” with a roster of injury-prone bargain-bin specials is a strategy. Cashman keeps promising he’ll bring in impact players, and then what do we get? Another batch of “if-he-stays-healthy” signings—spoiler alert: they never do. It’s like he’s building the team using expired coupons.

So yeah, congrats to Judge. He deserves every ovation, every plaque, every headline. But everyone with a functioning brain knows he’d rather be hoisting a World Series trophy than another MVP. And the saddest part? The Yankees, as currently run, look about as championship-ready as a Little League team running laps for losing their juice boxes.

Judge can do it all—hit, lead, inspire, carry—but he can’t drag an entire front office out of its own delusions. He needs help. Real help. Not “2021 All-Star who’s been hurt ever since” help. Until the Yankees figure that out, the only thing Judge will be lifting in October is his luggage as he heads home early.

So congrats, Captain. Enjoy the MVP. You earned it.

Too bad your organization still hasn’t earned you.