New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman expressed cautious optimism Monday regarding the potential return of Aaron Judge to the lineup this season. Judge, who has been sidelined since May 31, remains a pivotal figure for a Yankees offense that has struggled considerably in his absence.

Addressing concerns about Judge’s timeline for recovery, Cashman acknowledged the uncertainties inherent in any injury rehab but emphasized that the team is hopeful. “There’s a pretty high likelihood and optimism that he fits that timeframe for him to get back and join us,” Cashman said. He underscored that both Judge and the medical staff share this outlook, though he added that the situation “is always a moving target.”

The Yankees have suffered offensively since Judge’s injury, but their relief pitching has been a bright spot. Despite questions surrounding the bullpen at the start of the season, the unit has performed well, even though the team has made few additions ahead of the trade deadline. The Yankees parted ways with relievers Camilo Doval and Jake Bird, whose acquisition a year ago was part of a bullpen overhaul that ultimately fell short of expectations.

Cashman revealed that the team explored available bullpen options in the trade market but faced limited opportunities for high-impact reinforcements. “We definitely were on a number of different people,” he said. Still, the Yankees could rely on internal adjustments depending on the health of their starting rotation. Pitcher Carlos Rodón, currently dealing with elbow inflammation, has progressed to facing live hitters and could soon begin a rehab assignment. This might prompt the team to move starters such as Will Warren or Ryan Weathers into bullpen roles before the season concludes.

Additionally, Clarke Schmidt, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, may commence his own rehab assignment shortly. While Cashman described it as “unrealistic” for Schmidt to handle a full starting workload before 2026 ends, he noted the pitcher’s previous bullpen experience could enable him to contribute in a relief capacity.

Regarding another highly regarded prospect, Carlos Lagrange, who is advancing from a shoulder sprain, Cashman tempered expectations for his immediate impact. Although Lagrange has started throwing sooner than anticipated, the general manager characterized a late-season bullpen role as “possible” but “unlikely” and “highly doubtful,” especially since the team was unable to acquire additional high-velocity arms.

For now, the Yankees are relying on cautious optimism that Judge’s return will bolster an offense in need of a boost while maintaining flexibility within the pitching staff as injuries and recovery timelines evolve.