Brian Cashman gives discouraging Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton updates

Brian Cashman spoke with reporters prior to the Yankees' series finale against the Rays in Tampa, and provided updates on the health prognosis of the team's two injured sluggers, Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.

Neither update was particularly encouraging for fans hoping to get those two big bats back into the lineup soon.

The Yankees GM revealed that Judge, out since the start of June, will undergo reimaging on the stress fracture in his rib during the All-Star break. The reigning MVP has not done any upper-body work since landing on the IL, and Cashman hopes the imaging will show enough healing that Judge will be able to resume working out that part of the body. But Cashman admitted that he does not expect to see a fully clean report when they look at his ribs.

In short, it will likely be awhile until the Yankees have their captain and top offensive producer back in the fold.

"I don’t think we want to put him at risk of coming back while still injured," Cashman said. "He should be asymptomatic before we turn him loose. If he’s asymptomatic and not feeling anything and they’re showing healing, it’s probably appropriate to get him going again. But we don’t want to...put him in the position where we’re putting him in jeopardy, where somehow it gets worse. Because the downside of that would be a real problem, in my opinion, from what I understand.

Cashman did add that Judge's anticipated recovery timeline "should" see him back before the end of the season, though clearly, Thursday's outburst aside, the Yanks need his bat to help an offense that has been mainly lifeless over the past three weeks.

As for Stanton, Cashman revealed that the setback in his recovery from a calf strain was actually a new injury entirely, one that completely reset his recovery. Stanton has just resumed running, but there is no timetable for his return.

Cashman touched on a number of other topics, including hyped prospect George Lombard Jr., who Cashman revealed is nearing his return from injury, and could be a factor for the big-league club in the second half of a season and play multiple positions if needed. As for Aaron Boone, Cashman reinforced his belief in the manager despite the team's rough stretch of late.

"I think Boone does a great job," Cashman said. "I think he’s a very hard worker, very well connected. I think he’s prepared. I think he’s pulling every lever he possibly can pull. Nothing more than I’ve said before."