Aaron Judge's 36th homer wasn't enough as the Yankees fell 5-4 to the Blue Jays on July 21, 2025. Can NY's bullpen support their MVP-caliber captain?
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It’s a story becoming all too familiar for Yankees fans in 2025. Aaron Judge launches a baseball into orbit, the team grabs a lead, and then... it slips away. Monday's 5-4 loss in Toronto was a painful microcosm of the season's frustrations, a game that felt winnable until the very end, once again leaving the Bronx Bombers looking for answers that might not be in their own clubhouse.
With a .352 average, 36 homers, and 82 RBI, Aaron Judge is putting up video game numbers. The question is whether the front office can build a championship-caliber roster around him before it's too late.
The Yankees looked to be in control against their division rivals. Carlos Rodón delivered a decent start, and the captain, Aaron Judge, did what he does best, smashing his 36th home run of the season to give New York the edge. But the script flipped in the late innings. The bullpen, a recurring source of anxiety, couldn't hold the line, surrendering the go-ahead run in the 8th inning. The loss stings, dropping the Yankees to 55-44 and a full three games behind the very Blue Jays team that just celebrated at their expense.
Let's be clear: Aaron Judge is playing on another planet. He's not just in the MVP conversation; he's leading it. As of today, he leads the American League in home runs (36), batting average (.352), and RBI (82). His on-base and slugging percentages are astronomical. Yet, the team is treading water. A single player, no matter how generational, can't carry a team through October. Monday's loss was a stark reminder that Judge's heroics need a stronger supporting cast, particularly in high-leverage moments.
Which brings us to the front office. With the trade deadline fast approaching, the pressure is mounting. The Yankees' farm system, recently ranked 27th in baseball, isn't flush with the kind of blue-chip prospects needed to land a superstar. However, insiders believe there's enough pitching depth and secondary talent—think prospects like George Lombard Jr., Cam Schlittler, and Bryce Cunningham—to swing a deal for a crucial bullpen arm or a solid role player. The team desperately needs another reliable late-inning option, and the farm might be the only way to get one.
While the farm may not offer immediate star power, the Yankees' recent draft strategy provides a clue to their philosophy: control the strike zone. New draftees like SS Dax Kilby and pitchers Pico Kohn and Rory Fox were all selected for their advanced command and discipline. Ninth-round pitcher Blake Gillespie, who threw a no-hitter for Charlotte this spring, epitomizes this approach. It's a sound, if not flashy, strategy for building sustainable depth. The problem is that this long-term vision doesn't solve the immediate, glaring need for impact talent on a 2025 team with championship aspirations.
The Yankees leave Toronto with a bitter taste and a clear mandate. The next week is not just about trying to win games against a division leader; it's a final audition for this current roster construction. The front office is on the clock. Will they make the necessary moves to support their MVP and make a serious run, or will fans be left wondering what could have been in another spectacular season from Aaron Judge?
