Aaron Judge Is Hurt -- Again

Yankees' star right fielder Aaron Judge is hurt again, and the team doesn't want to start a panic about it, according to manager Aaron Boone. So they've said that the 28-year-old slugger is suffering from a "sore side." But knowing Aaron Judge...when's the burial?

This is not ideal, just six games into the 2021 season.

Yankees Twitter is in full panic mode and rightfully so. You don't have to be a Yankees fan to understand where they're coming from. And here's some context to prove it:

Check out the "G" (games played) column. Those numbers should at the very least start to creep towards 162. Unfortunately, they aren't close. The last time Aaron Judge put a full season together was his breakout 2017 campaign, when he slugged 52 homers and piled up 114 RBI. He instantly became a fan favorite, but all that momentum was suddenly derailed when he couldn't stay on the field.

And it's not even like the Bombers can DH the guy. Giancarlo Stanton and his own injury woes made sure that position was filled out until his contract expires after the 2028 season.

So what should the Yankees do?

Aaron Judge has proven that he can't stay healthy for more than half a season. So you know what the Yankees should do? Offer him half the money. If he can play, let's say 80% of a season, then his contract launches into the stratosphere. That's fair, right?

Because as of right now, Aaron Judge can go 5-5 with four homers and then end up on the IL the following morning. It's mind-boggling and frustrating to watch for fans of baseball.

Luckily for the Yankees, outside of the Toronto Blue Jays, the AL East is expected to be pretty average. The Yanks likely won't need Aaron Judge to win the division, but they will need his presence come October.

If they can't rely on big Aaron Judge, they may be forced to move on. Man, I sure hope not.