Aaron Judge was never supposed to be a question mark. He’s the Yankees’ captain, their best player, and the face of the franchise. But when reports surfaced that Judge had “made the team” and would travel with them to New York, Yankees fans couldn’t resist. The sarcasm hit instantly. Social media lit up with jokes and not-so-subtle jabs about the state of the team heading into Opening Day.

Of course, nobody actually thought Judge was on the roster bubble. The outrage wasn’t about him—it was about everything else. This was an offseason that started with fireworks, only to fizzle out as key targets like Juan Soto slipped away. Yankees fans expected a juggernaut; instead, they’re heading into the season with a rotation full of doubts and an offense that still feels incomplete. So, when the most obvious roster decision in baseball became “news,” fans ran with it, turning their frustration into top-tier comedy.

This isn’t just about one off-season. Yankees fans have been here before. Every winter, there’s talk of returning to dominance, and every year, it seems like the team stops just short of going all-in. And this time, the sting is worse because the Yankees actually lost on blockbuster moves.

Corbin Burnes? He went to the Orioles. Yoshinobu Yamamoto? The Dodgers, of course. Max Fried? Not even close. The Yankees brought in Marcus Stroman—who should be solid—but fans were hoping for a game-changing ace to anchor a rotation that has way too many “ifs.” Now, Opening Day is around the corner, and that feeling of incompleteness just won’t go away.

Aaron Judge making the roster isn’t the joke here. The joke is that he might have to carry this team—again. Fans remember what happened last season when Judge got hurt. The offense cratered. The team spiraled. It was a harsh reminder that, for all their resources, the Yankees still rely too much on one player. And now, even with Soto gone, there’s a lingering fear: What happens if Judge misses time?

From excitement to exhaustion, Yankees fanbase is running out of patience

They questioned the team’s decision to let Dominic Smith go while keeping Judge in the team. The user believes that Smith would have been the better option and expresses their disappointment by calling the Judge a “b–,” highlighting how ridiculous the announcement sounds. They also reacted with an exasperated “Ugh.” The comment reflects broader dissatisfaction with the team’s roster moves and suggests disappointment over what they see as a downgrade.

The critic showed skepticism on how the Yankees have managed Aaron Judge’s preparation for the season. They argue that he hasn’t been given enough playing time in spring training to be fully ready. The fan believes Judge was coddled last year, suggesting he wasn’t pushed hard enough, which led to a poor start. They see a similar pattern this year, pointing out his low 39 plate appearances and poor .129 batting average. The final line shows that they expect Judge to struggle early again and are annoyed with the team’s approach to his preparation.

It harshly criticizes Aaron Judge’s spring training performance, arguing that his struggles make him look more like a minor leaguer than a superstar. By saying he should be in Double-A, the fan is using exaggeration to highlight concerns about his readiness for the season. Judge’s low batting average and limited plate appearances in spring training have raised doubts, and this remark reflects a lack of confidence in his ability to start strong on Opening Day.

There’s disbelief that a player’s poor spring training performance hasn’t affected their roster status, implying that results in camp are being ignored. The fan is likely referring to Aaron Judge’s struggles, questioning why he’s automatically being upgraded into the lineup despite his underwhelming stats. It suggests a belief that players should have to earn their spot based on merit rather than reputation while also hinting discontent with the team’s decision-making process.

This statement took a direct shot at Yankees GM Brian Cashman, implying that he has once again made a low-quality acquisition rather than pursuing a top-tier player. The phrase “dumpster dive” suggests Aaron Judge to be seen as a bargain-bin pickup rather than a legitimate difference-maker. “SMH” (shaking my head) adds a tone of disappointment, reinforcing the idea that the fan believes Cashman’s roster decisions continue to fall short of expectations.

Another comment sarcastically mocks the Yankees’ owner, Hal Steinbrenner, and GM Brian Cashman’s approach to player acquisitions. The reference to Hal’s wallet suggests the fan believes Steinbrenner is more focused on spending as little as possible rather than making the necessary investments to improve the team. Mentioning Jason Bay—a player who has been retired for over a decade—further exaggerates the idea that the Yankees are targeting washed-up or irrelevant players. Calling Cashman ‘Trash man’ reinforces the criticism, implying that he habitually picks up players well past their prime while insisting they still have value. The overall tone is one of heavy sarcasm, ridiculing the front office for failing to pursue legitimate upgrades.

In essence, fans question whether performance truly matters or if reputation guarantees a spot, fueling doubts about another slow start. As Opening Day approaches, all eyes will be on Judge to prove the critics wrong.