Aaron Judge officially became eligible to sign with a team other than the Yankees  at 5 p.m. on Thursday.

Around two hours later, Aaron Boone acknowledged the uncertainty of the situation going forward. 

“I still haven’t allowed myself to [think about] the reality of him not being with us,’’ the manager said. “Certainly, you know nothing’s guaranteed. I don’t like to think about [him leaving], but it is a little bit different now.” 

Judge has been free to talk to other teams since the end of the World Series, but now, for the first time in his career, he’s free to sign elsewhere.

Boone, who was at Joe Torre’s Safe at Home Foundation dinner in Midtown, said he hadn’t reached out to Judge since the slugger hit the open market, but had texted him since the end of the season. 

“We’re into free-agent mode now,’’ Boone said. “Hopefully, it ends with him back in pinstripes, where he belongs. But we’ll see how it goes.” 

The Yankees made qualifying offers to both Judge and Anthony Rizzo on Thursday. The qualifying offer is worth $19.65 million this year and allows the Yankees to get a draft pick if either player signs elsewhere. 

They did not make one to Jameson Taillon, who is also a free agent. 

Boone remains hopeful the Yankees can bring back both Judge and Rizzo. Rizzo hit 32 homers in his first full season in The Bronx, but was plagued by back issues in the second half. 

Still, he figures to be in line for at least a two-year deal worth $36 million. 

That’s a lot of power the Yankees stands to lose if either slugger signs elsewhere. 

“Obviously, the organization has to be agile and be able to maneuver,’’ Boone said. “Hopefully we get the resolution we want and everyone is happy and we move on and start building around that, but you always have to be nimble for whatever happens.” 

The Yankees added three minor league pitchers, Matt Krook, Jimmy Cordero and Jhony Brito, to their 40-man roster on Thursday, preventing them from becoming free agents, while outfielder Tim Locastro was outrighted off the roster and elected free agency. 

Krook, 28, has never pitched in the majors and spent last year at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he had a 4.09 ERA in 138 ²/₃ innings. He was on the Yankees’ taxi squad in Texas at the end of the regular season. 

Cordero had a 2.79 ERA in 38 ²/₃ innings pitching out of the bullpen with SWB after coming back from Tommy John surgery. The 31-year-old most recently pitched in the majors with the White Sox in 2020. 

The 24-year-old Brito finished last year at SWB after beginning the season with Double-A Somerset. He had a 2.96 ERA in 112 ²/₃ innings between the two and is seen as a potential back end of the rotation pitcher in the future. 

Locastro stole eight bases in 38 games in The Bronx and was on the roster for both postseason series.