NEW YORK - Addressing media shortly after the trade deadline passed on Monday, New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman voiced ongoing hope that Aaron Judge can recover from his right first rib stress fracture and play again this year, yet he stopped short of dismissing the chance the slugger stays sidelined.

"That is a reasonable question for anyone to raise," Cashman remarked. "Sure, it is possible things fail to unfold as planned, yet right now we stay quite positive he will get back in action.

"Still, obstacles remain along the way. Once he does return, whenever that occurs, there is the process of building him up and restoring his timing, among other factors. So nothing can be excluded at this point."

Judge has been absent since May 31 and has not started any baseball drills. Cashman explained that the next rib scan will determine the outfielder's outlook, though he offered no timeline for when that imaging will happen.

"I can only go by the established guidelines, and the schedule carries a strong chance he aligns with it to rejoin the club," Cashman added. "That remains my focus and belief, just as it does for him and the medical staff. But plans can shift.

"Only when we reach the point of clearing him for physical and on-field work, confirming sufficient healing, does a clearer view emerge on the remaining duration. The reimaging will provide that updated assessment."

The injury occurred when Judge dove for a ball on April 26, his 34th birthday, and he continued playing through discomfort for more than a month before it grew too severe.

Through May 12, Judge posted a .275 average with 16 home runs and a 1.047 OPS over 43 games, figures below his recent peaks but consistent with his usual output. Performance dipped afterward: he hit .180 with one homer and a .550 OPS across 16 games and 71 plate appearances. He landed on the 10-day injured list June 5 and moved to the 60-day IL on July 18.

Before the deadline, the Yankees added first baseman Luis Garcia Jr. and outfielder Heliot Ramos to support an offense missing Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Cody Bellinger. Since June 1, New York sits last in wRC+, 29th in OPS and 26th in runs scored.

Garcia, a left-handed batter, started Monday against the St. Louis Cardinals in the third spot at first base. He is slated to share first base and designated hitter duties with Ben Rice versus right-handers, while Paul Goldschmidt will pair with Rice against left-handers.

Cashman indicated Ramos will see plenty of action versus both righties and lefties until injured players return. Ramos, who owns an .835 OPS against left-handers this year, may later shift into a platoon role versus southpaws.

Stanton, sidelined since late April with dual calf issues, took live batting practice and ran in the outfield Monday at Yankee Stadium. Bellinger suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain last week and is projected to miss 4-6 weeks. Judge's availability stays unclear.

"We have committed to another scan," Cashman said. "We will not announce the date in advance, but it will clarify his progress in the healing process and when we can clear him for activities beyond what he has done so far, since rest remains the priority. I will not reveal that date."