The New York Yankees were eliminated by the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALDS, extending their championship drought to 17 seasons — the second-longest in franchise history. Aaron Judge, who missed the entire postseason with a right calf strain, said the front office should "go all-in" and called the loss painful after his 10th full season without a title. Judge played only 66 games this year (.241, 18 HR, .871 OPS) after returning from a fractured rib.
The Rays, carrying less than a third of the Yankees' payroll, defied expectations to win the AL East. They exposed New York's vulnerabilities: Drew Rasmussen lost a no-hitter in Game 1, the Yankees committed four errors in Game 2, and manager Aaron Boone shuffled the lineup for Game 3, starting Anthony Volpe and Jose Caballero while moving Trent Grisham to leadoff. Judge watched from the dugout as Tampa Bay celebrated on Yankee Stadium turf.
"It definitely hurts," Judge said. "I want to be out there."
Source: ESPN MLB · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing