As the MLB trade deadline approaches, the New York Yankees are under mounting pressure to build a lineup that can fully support Aaron Judge’s quest to lead the franchise back to the World Series. Central to this effort is the necessity of protecting Aaron Judge in lineup, a factor critical to preventing opposing pitchers from exploiting the Yankees’ current offensive gaps. Without a strong secondary bat to challenge rival pitching staffs, Judge often finds himself intentionally walked, diminishing his impact during crucial moments.

Currently, the Yankees have several notable names, including Cody Bellinger, Paul Goldschmidt, Giancarlo Stanton, and Jasson Dominguez, but none have consistently intimidated opposing teams enough to deter intentional walks aimed at Judge. This lack of effective protection has allowed opponents in high-stakes situations to freely bypass Judge with walks, thus limiting the Yankees’ scoring opportunities.

Brandon Tierney Highlights Alarming Growth in Intentional Walks Against Judge

WFAN analyst Brandon Tierney has drawn attention to a troubling statistic: Aaron Judge has already been intentionally walked 20 times in the 2025 season, matching his total from the entire 2024 campaign. Tierney emphasizes that this trend, if unchecked, might seriously hamper the Yankees’ championship ambitions.

“The Yankees’ biggest issue right now — until they make a trade, and they need to make a trade at some point — is they’ve got to figure out how to protect Aaron Judge,” Tierney said. “I mean, this is now happening at a very different pace than in the past. Aaron Judge has been intentionally walked 20 times this year. Last year? 20 the entire season.”

“You simply can’t have a situation where once or twice a game, with a runner on first, the opposing manager just casually intentionally walks Judge,” he added.

Tierney pointed out the Yankees’ lack of a true leadoff hitter compounds this issue, making it easier for opposing teams to avoid pitching to Judge with confidence.

“To me, there’s only one solution,” Tierney added. “You can throw out the names — Stanton, Jazz (who’s been on a great roll)… I’m not looking to mess with Jazz, and it’s definitely not Stanton at this point. I think the only way the Yankees can work around this is put Judge in the 2-spot and hope that Bellinger is in the early stages of heating up.”

“Don’t know that we’ll ever see MVP Bellinger again — I don’t think that’s the player they acquired. But looking at the roster, who’s equipped to have Aaron Judge’s back?” he added.

The Importance of Providing Judge with Strong Backing at the Plate

The core of the problem revolves around the frequency and ease with which opposing teams can intentionally walk Judge, especially in tight, late-game scenarios. For Judge to be effective, he must see enough quality pitches to make a difference, but without a reliable hitter behind him, opponents often choose to pitch around him.

This pattern poses a significant threat as the Yankees head toward the postseason, since pitching staffs will have little incentive to challenge Judge if they perceive the lineup behind him as weak or inconsistent. This tactical avoidance could severely handicap New York’s chances of securing their first World Series title since 2009.

Brandon Tierney Compares the Situation to Jalen Brunson’s Offensive Challenges

To illustrate the severity of the challenge, Tierney drew a parallel with the New York Knicks’ star Jalen Brunson, who faces intense defensive focus that limits his offensive opportunities.

“Imagine the Knicks trying to go on a championship run, and Jalen Brunson gets triple-teamed so much that he can only take nine shots a night. Untenable, right?” Tierney said.

“Some things you’ve got to work around. And the Yankees must work around the increasing trend of opposing managers intentionally avoiding pitching to the best player in baseball,” he added.

This comparison highlights how constant defensive attention on a team’s star player can undermine overall success if the supporting cast cannot counterbalance that focus.

The Urgency for New York to Act Before the Postseason

As the Yankees remain in the hunt for a championship, Tierney’s analysis serves as a stark warning to the team’s front office. Without decisive moves at the trade deadline to bolster the lineup behind Aaron Judge, the franchise risks repeating a pattern where Judge is often sidelined by intentional walks. This stagnation threatens not only the Yankees’ title hopes but also increases the risk of injury as Judge continues to absorb pitches without proper offensive backing.

The coming weeks are therefore critical for the Yankees to redefine their lineup strategies, seek impactful trades, and ultimately ensure that protecting Aaron Judge in lineup becomes a priority that translates into postseason success.