Aaron Judge Expresses Frustration After Yankees' ALDS Elimination

Aaron Judge said he was "hating every single moment" of watching his New York Yankees team lose to the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALDS from the dugout. The Rays completed a three-game sweep of the Yankees with a 4-3 victory on Oct. 7, 2026, at Yankee Stadium.

Judge, who was sidelined for a significant portion of the regular season with a fractured rib and then a strained calf, was unable to participate in the postseason. "I don't forget it. I was thinking of missed opportunities this season and this series," Judge stated, reflecting on his team's elimination.

He added that he was "feeling great" but acknowledged the team missed his presence. "It definitely hurts. You want to be out there. You try to get out there as soon as you can. It hurts not to get a chance to get out and battle."

Following the loss, the Yankees face an offseason with considerable uncertainty, potentially including a lockout in December. When asked about what the team needs to improve to avoid similar outcomes in the future, Judge urged the front office to make significant moves.

"We're the Yankees. I feel like [the front office] should go all in and do what they need to do. If we've got holes, if it's finding certain players, whatever we need," Judge said. He noted that "a lot of things" need to change for the team to return to championship contention.

Despite the team's shortcomings, Judge praised the contributions of younger players like Cam Schlittler, George Lombard Jr., and Spencer Jones, and Anthony Volpe's resilience after a stint in the minors. However, these efforts were not enough to secure a championship.

"I control what I can as a player. They give us a winning team every year. That's not good enough in New York," Judge asserted. He expressed his strong dislike for seeing rival teams celebrate at Yankee Stadium, referencing the Blue Jays' ALDS clinching victory there the previous year. "If you don't like it, you've got to play better."