Hal Steinbrenner OK with Aaron Judge's 'all in' comments

Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner said he had no issues with captain Aaron Judge's assertion that the team should go "all in" to win a championship. Steinbrenner stated on Wednesday that he had a "great conversation" with Judge about the matter and that the sentiment is a "two-way street."

"If I was a player, I would have expectations that my ownership group would do everything in their power every offseason to field a team that can win a championship," Steinbrenner said during a video conference call. "We did that this year. We had the highest payroll in the history of the organization [roughly $340 million for luxury tax purposes, per Cot’s Contracts]. … I definitely think we went all in this season."

Steinbrenner added that he also has expectations of his players, including adherence to rules and hard work. Judge missed over three months with a broken rib and then, after not going on a rehab assignment, returned for seven games before straining his calf. That injury sidelined him for the remainder of the season, including the playoffs, despite his efforts to be included on the roster.

General manager Brian Cashman confirmed Wednesday that Judge was not available to play in the postseason because "he just wasn’t physically able to post for us." Judge is scheduled for a follow-up appointment with Dr. Gregory Pearl to assess his recovery from the rib injury.

In other team news, Cashman has agreed to a new contract, set to begin in 2024, which will mark his 30th season as the club's general manager.

Steinbrenner also addressed the recent $2.6 billion financing deal with Apollo Global Management, clarifying that it was not a precursor to selling the team. He explained the deal was intended to "bring in capital into the company that would be there for us to give us more financial stability for years and years to come." Steinbrenner emphasized that Apollo will have no role in the day-to-day operations of the franchise.

Regarding the potential for a lockout and labor negotiations, Steinbrenner reiterated his support for a salary cap, stating he helped craft proposals that have been presented at the bargaining table.

Earlier in the season, Steinbrenner had attributed the Yankees' struggles primarily to the offense and indicated a review of the coaching staff. However, manager Aaron Boone expressed confidence in hitting coach James Rowson, praising the culture he has established within the hitting group.

As of Wednesday, no players had procedures or surgeries scheduled, though the team will monitor Max Fried, who experienced a bone bruise in his left elbow. Boone indicated Fried is in a good position for the future, with plans for downtime followed by a ramp-up period.