Yankees: Cashman ‘very optimistic’ Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton return

When the 2020 season kicks off, Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton should be good to go for the Yankees.

Over the last two MLB seasons, the New York Yankees had to deal with an unprecedented number of injuries to many of their top players. Guys like Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Hicks, James Paxton, and more missed significant time giving way to a slew of unproven talent that, thankfully, panned out.

Entering a shortened 2020 season, however, with the team on hiatus since October of 2019, all of these players have had plenty of time to manage their injuries and rest. Now, according to multiple reports, the team looks to be at full capacity when the season begins.

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First, according to Lindsey Adler of The Athletic, Brian Cashman says he’s “very optimistic” Judge will be ready for Opening Day. Aaron Judge played just 102 games last season after suffering an unknown injury which later turned out to be a fractured rib.

Cashman later added that Giancarlo Stanton “should be a full go as a DH option,” according to reporter Bryan Hoch. Stanton only played 18 games for the Yankees in 2019. He suffered a strained calf back in February, which would have forced him to miss the start of the 2020 season had it started on time.

Finally, in terms of Hicks (Tommy John Surgery in October 2019) and Paxton (back surgery in February 2020), both of whom underwent surgery this prior offseason and were set to miss at least half of the season, Brian Cashman is confident both will be ready for Opening Day.

Now, a team in tatters is suddenly at full force, and barring any setbacks to the 2020 MLB season, should be primed to finally make a championship run.

With a fully healthy team in tow, as Summer Camp kicks off today, we’ll get a better picture of which Yankees players will decide to opt-out of the season. Brian Cashman seems to feel confident that the team will have zero holdouts.