But the most alarming quote from Brian Cashman after the deadline wasn't any of that. It was his "update" on Aaron Judge, which might explain why more risk wasn't taken before the buzzer at 6 p.m. Brian Cashman on Aaron Judge: "We currently are still very optimistic that he's going to return, but there's challenges with all that too. — Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) August 3, 2026The Yankees don't sound sure Aaron Judge will return in 2026Judge was re-examined during the All-Star break. And though he essentially repeated the usual trade deadline behavior dating back to 2018, this edition was devoid of any aggression.