Aaron Judge is prepared to make a huge positional change to fix team’s biggest issue

New York Yankees star Aaron Judge is open to playing a new position to get slugger Giancarlo Stanton in the outfield this season.

The New York Yankees avoided the worst possible scenario — losing superstar outfielder and 2022 AL MVP Aaron Judge. After a scare involving the San Francisco Giants, Judge and the Yankees were able to agree to terms on a nine-year, $360 million contract. Not only that but Judge was named the Yankees captain, a position that was vacated by Derek Jeter when he retired. What else is on the table for Judge in the first year of his nine-season pact with the Bronx Bombers?

How about a new potential position?

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that he is considering giving Giancarlo Stanton some playing time in right field. With that, he would consider playing Judge in left field. While meeting with the media on Tuesday, Judge said he told the Yankees that he would be willing to play left field.

Aaron Judge open to playing left field for Yankees to get Giancarlo Stanton more playing time

“I did mention it to him, if we need to get Big G in right field at Yankee Stadium, put me in left,” Judge said, h/t ESPN. “I don’t mind it. I don’t mind switching around so we can have (Harrison) Bader, me, and Big G out there. So, we’ll get some reps in spring training and (get) comfortable out there.”

This would be an interesting move for the Yankees. While Judge has split time between right and center field notably last season, he has never played in left field at the major league level. There likely won’t be much playing time at center for Judge in 2023, considering they brought in Harrison Bader at the trade deadline last year, and he performed very well. That’s not a shock, considering he did win a Gold Glove award in 2021.

Playing Judge at left wouldn’t hurt to try, considering that is far from a position that’s locked in. While the Yankees did retain Judge and first baseman Anthony Rizzo, while bringing in starting pitcher Carlos Rodon and reliever Tommy Kahnle, the team didn’t bring in a left fielder. With that, that leaves Aaron Hicks as the defacto starter, who struggled last season.

As for Stanton, he primarily played right field during his time with the Miami Marlins. With New York, he was mostly their designated hitter, but also played in left field. Stanton was open to the idea of getting more playing time in the outfield.

“I think I have more of a flow when I’m an outfielder,” Stanton said, h/t MLB.com. “Being an outfielder, you’re more engaged in the game, whereas [as the] DH, you’re inside a lot of the time staying warm and hitting, kind of watching the game from the TV.”

While this is just an idea, Judge playing in left field could be something that Yankees fans should keep an eye on throughout the 2023 season.