AL WILD CARD SERIES: RED SOX VS YANKEES

September 29, 2026

Aaron Boone

Yankee Stadium

New York Yankees

Pregame Press Conference

Q. Aaron Judge not on the roster for this portion of the playoffs. Just how difficult a decision was that, and ultimately what told you that he was not ready?

AARON BOONE: I don't know, just obviously had the workout last night, and the fact that he was able to get out there and take BP, take live swings, wasn't just him going out there and doing it. He had to check a lot of boxes to be able to do that with strength and conditioning, with the trainers.

So it's a significant step for him and I think a sign that he's shown real improvement here over the last couple of weeks.

We had an honest conversation last night after the workout, he and I and a couple of the trainers, and I just felt like he wasn't quite ready to be what he needs to be for us.

So hopefully we're able to advance, and these are valuable days as he gets closer to being a real option for us and hopefully be a part of, at some point, moving forward. When that is, I don't know. But felt like he was not quite ready yet.

Q. He had spoke in the clubhouse yesterday before he went out and had the live at-bat, saying that he wanted to be out there and be a part of it. How did he accept the news? Was there any back and forth there?

AARON BOONE: Yeah, we talked a lot. Look, he's doing everything he possibly can and desperately wants to be out there with his guys. I mean, you know being around him all the time, his passion for the game, his passion for his teammates and this team. He's doing everything he can to just get better and do everything he can to heal as quickly as possible.

But it comes down to you've got to have an honest conversation at that point when we're obviously making decision. So I would say we just had a good conversation.

Q. In what ways can Judge maybe still be an asset even if he's not playing?

AARON BOONE: Always. His teammates look up to him so much and respect him so much, and he's so close with all of them. He's front and center in our hitters meeting yesterday and today, you know, leading some conversations.

He is the guy in the room, and guys look to him and him being around and a sounding board. And being front and center is important. He brings a lot to the table outside the lines, too.

Q. Even in a three-game series, 10 pitchers feels kind of tight. Does it feel that way to you guys, did it feel like a risk making that decision?

AARON BOONE: A little bit, but felt like this was the best way to go for us to give ourselves the best chance to win. So there's always uncomfortable things that you've got to deal with in the regular season, certainly in the postseason.

Nothing's perfect. But we felt like this gives us the best chance to leverage at different opportunities. And hopefully it sets us up for success.

Q. Given that, how do you kind of envision using Rodón?

AARON BOONE: We'll see. I could see a number of roles. I could see him in a leverage spot late in the game, in a shorter role. I could see us in an extra-inning scenario, getting there and saying, all right, it's your game.

So really we'll see how these things unfold, how deep our starters go into these games, and make difficult calls when we have to.

Q. How important is it for Judge to run the bases, because he told us yesterday that he didn't run the bases? How important is that?

AARON BOONE: Yeah, I mean, at some point, obviously, that will be part of it, especially if coming back as a full player and playing the field and in the lineup and things like that. That will be something that, whether it's literally running bases, but something in that vein of getting back to that point.

Q. How good is it to see Giancarlo back on the team?

AARON BOONE: Awesome. It's obviously been a really tough year for G on the injury front. And I just give him a ton of credit because after this last setback a month ago, he probably could have just taken his ball and gone home.

And, like, he's never stopped. Even through the frustration of having a couple of different setbacks, he's never stopped working and trying to, if he can, be some kind of option. And he's at that point now.

And I think through the entire year, the one thing he has done is he's hit a lot because he's been close to returning a couple of times.

So for a guy that hasn't obviously played since April, that's a thing. That's absolutely real. He has hit a lot during the year and certainly hit a lot lately.

Certainly with his track record and being in these situations a lot, I know he's going to be able to handle any moment and be able to think properly and focus properly. And hopefully the threat that he is can play a factor for us in this series.

Q. To that point, how do you maybe envision using Giancarlo over these next three games?

AARON BOONE: To hit.

Q. In any capacity? DH? Pinch-hit?

AARON BOONE: Yeah, I don't know that I see a DH. Just with the makeup of our roster. Obviously Benny's our DH, and with the platoon of Garcia and Goldy and the dynamic of that, it's a bullet off the bench, and it's a pretty dynamic one.

So we'll see. He feels ready to go. I know he'll handle the moment mentally, emotionally. And hopefully maybe he's got a big swing or two in him.

Q. Not that you want to get used to playing without Judge, but what did you learn about your squad having to go without him for so long this year and still be able to win 90-plus games?

AARON BOONE: This team has been resilient, I feel like has developed a really nice grit to them. We've been through a lot this season -- not just Aaron, but a number of different challenges we've faced, injuries we've faced. And these guys have never wavered and found ways to win a lot of games. And that's a credit to who they are and the makeup of the team.

I feel like we've played some of our best baseball over the last couple of months. Zillo and I joked at different points, like, we had a 10-game road trip where we went to Philly and the White Sox and the Cubs and went 6-4. And I've got people telling me, hang in there, because there was a stretch there where we really struggled offensively.

We were finding ways to win games, and that's a credit to them and kind of their focus on the daily.

So we're a confident group. We're not perfect. But we're excited to go take our shot.

Q. With Judge, is he going to continue hitting on the field with you guys, or no?

AARON BOONE: I mean, I don't know each day what -- he'll be doing his thing. He's obviously started to hit and stuff. So that will continue.

Q. With Weathers obviously through the live yesterday, just wondering what's the decision not to include him on the roster?

AARON BOONE: Yeah, so that was one of the tough calls because I'm excited where Ryan is. And I really feel like if we're able to go on a long run, I think Ryan Weathers is going to play a big role for us.

He threw one live going into yesterday. So had he been on this roster, he wouldn't have thrown that live yesterday. And I felt like it would have been really limited what we would have had. And especially going with 10 pitchers, you know, I felt like I probably would have had one inning with him in this series.

So I feel like the value of throwing another live yesterday, potentially another live or bullpen, however the pitching group sets it up, if we're able to move on, I feel like he might end up being a real weapon for us and have something under his belt.

I felt like after his first live a few days ago, my takeaway was he looked healthy. He looked physical. Yesterday, I felt the same way, only I felt like a notch sharper.

So I feel like he needed that next one. And I feel like, again, obviously there's no guarantees we advance, but if we're able to advance, I feel like he'll be in a good place to really impact us.

Q. And you went with Jones at center. Is Grisham a full go?

AARON BOONE: Grisham is a full go.

Q. You mentioned trying to find leverage, which I assume is match-ups, which is why you go with 16 guys. Still, they have so much lefty pitching and you have so much lefty hitting. At some point it feels like your lefty hitters have to do some damage with their lefty pitcher. I wonder how equipped you think you guys are to do that?

AARON BOONE: Yeah, look, probably the overwhelming strength for the Red Sox this year is their pitching. They're gonna throw three great starters at us, and they've got a lot of depth in the bullpen, too, that they're gonna run at us.

So there's gonna be some not great match-ups for us at times. Hopefully there's a handful in the biggest situations that we're able to take advantage of.

But these games come down to sometimes a tough at-bat that's not a great match-up. You know, we talk about leveraging everything, but it ultimately comes down to do you get a big hit in a big situation; does someone pop one and run into one with a couple runners on? You never know how it's going to unfold.

But certainly they're gonna have some favorable match-ups at times that we're gonna have to come through in anyway.

Q. Why do you think Cam has had so much success against Boston?

AARON BOONE: I think he's had so much success, period. He's gonna win the Cy Young in his first full year. He came up last year and was good right away. Obviously had a dominant outing in the postseason against them last year.

I don't know. Look, he's faced them a few times. He's a great pitcher. Like, that's what he's capable of every time he goes and takes the ball. He's gonna win the Cy Young. Usually, those guys are capable of dominating.

He's had some great outings against them. Obviously, he's from that area. So there's an added personal thing about it in his young career so far.

He's shown an ability to, the bigger the spot, seems like the better he's been. But that's a testament to just being a great pitcher with great stuff that is, I think, an elite competitor, too.