#Aaron Judge ‘begged’ Yankees to keep him of IL

Aaron Judge said he was ready to play Sunday, although he’s not eligible to come off the injured list until Saturday with a calf strain.

“I feel 100 percent,’’ Judge said before the Yankees faced the Red Sox on Sunday in The Bronx. “I was trying to get them to give me a couple days [off], so I’d be ready [Monday], but it is what it is. I think they’re looking out for me so it doesn’t get any worse.”

Judge said repeatedly he tried to talk his way off the IL, to no avail.

He was removed from Tuesday night’s game against the Braves in the sixth inning and wasn’t in the lineup Wednesday evening because of what the Yankees called lower body tightness. He underwent an MRI exam on Thursday’s off day and was diagnosed with a mild right calf strain.

On Sunday, Judge said the initial tightness began after the team’s doubleheader at Tampa Bay on Aug. 8. He said he also felt it the next day on the unforgiving artificial turf at Tropicana Field.

“That’s usually what I feel going there,’’ Judge said of The Trop. “It usually beats up your legs playing on that turf. I tried to maintain it playing against the Braves [at home] and they kind of pulled me out.”

Judge planned on doing some running Sunday and hoped to start swinging Monday, with the expectation he’d return to the lineup Saturday.

“I told them, ‘I’m good to go guys, but if we must, I’ll take the weekend off from picking up a bat,’ ” Judge said.

And he said he “begged” Aaron Boone and the training staff to stay on the active roster — particularly in a shortened season.

“Any time off is not good,’’ Judge said. “That’s why I begged for just a couple days and not 10 days. I don’t need 10 days to feel good. I already feel 100 percent now. It’s tough being away, especially now, with [Giancarlo Stanton] and DJ [LeMahieu] out. It makes it tough, but it’s all precautionary stuff and I’ll be back there on Saturday.”

Judge said he’s not upset with the team for being cautious.

“I wouldn’t say I’m frustrated with the organization,’’ Judge said. “This kind of shows how much the organization cares for me and looks out for my well-being. They don’t want me to go out there and push it. I can’t be frustrated with this organization. I’m frustrated with myself not being out there.”

Despite Judge’s seemingly quick recovery, Boone said he had no second thoughts about moving him to the IL.

“We had a lot of back and forth about it,’’ Boone said of his discussions with Judge. “It’s hard because I know who he is and the competitor he is and obviously the greatness he brings to the table, but when you’re dealing with a soft tissue [injury], for me, it was an easy decision based on not wanting this to become a big issue.”

And after talking to other players about how to offset the impact of the turf at Tampa Bay, Judge plans on wearing tennis sneakers in the field and switching to cleats for hitting whenever the Yankees go back to Tampa Bay.

“Tennis shoes on the turf are easier on the body and knees,’’ Judge said.