The New York Yankees have offered Aaron Judge a massive contract extension
With big ambitions, the Yankees are clearly trying to secure the services of their star for the long run.
If money talks, then the question has got to be what is it saying to the New York Yankees star?
New York Yankees offer Aaron Judge huge contract extension
According to a report from the MLB Network, the New York Yankees have offered their biggest star a massive long-term contract extension that would tie him to the franchise for the foreseeable future. Judge was offered a multiyear deal with a total guarantee in excess of $200 million. The contract - if accepted - would make him the highest paid annual position player in the team’s history. According to the NY Post, the Yankees offered more than $27.5 million, which would place Judge’s AAV behind only the Angels’ Mike Trout and Mookie Betts of the LA Dodgers as the largest in league history amongst outfielders.
Interestingly, Judge had previously stated ahead of the Yankees’ opening day on Friday that he had no further updates on the negotiations of his extension, but that he would in fact be maintaining Friday as his deadline day for a deal to be agreed, because he had no desire to be involved in negotiations while the season is in progress. Indeed, it wasn’t long after reporting for spring training that Judge made clear that he would not negotiate a contract after Opening Day. “I’m gonna stick with that deadline. I think it’s best for both parties, so they can focus on what they need to do and I can focus on what I need to do, which is on the field. If we’re not close by then, what’s the point of communicating in the season?” he said recently. “We’ll have an update for you guys,” Judge told reporters pre-game. “I’ve got a game to focus on right now. So if it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, I’ll see you guys after the game and we’ll talk about that.”
So what happens with Judge and the Yankees now?
Should Judge put pen to paper, the Yankees would then successfully have signed five different players right through to 2025. Those in question would be Judge, Gerrit Cole, Aaron Hicks, DJ LeMahieu, and Giancarlo Stanton. There are of course other players, such as Josh Donaldson, Joey Gallo, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Jordan Montgomery, Anthony Rizzo, Luis Severino, and Jameson Taillon all of whom will be facing free agency in this coming off season or the next, which is to say New York has some roster changes on the horizon.
Who is Aaron Judge and Where are the Yankees at?
Soon to be 30 years old, one could say Judge is in his prime at the moment. Having posted a .287/.382/.544 batting line with 39 home runs during the 2021 season as he finished up 4th in the voting for the AL’s MVP, Judge has all the markings of one of the best players in the league. Indeed that is in fact how he has performed when he has been on the field, which perhaps is the one are where he might come in for critique. Often injured, Judge was limited him to 242 of 384 possible regular season games from 2018-20.
As for the Yankees, they were actually were unable to reach an agreement with Judge on a 2022 contract before the arbitration salary filing deadline arrived last month. At the time Judge attempted to negotiate for $21 million, but the franchise filed at $17 million. With this new extension, the need for an arbitration hearing would be removed. Needless to say this is a clear sign of intent from the Yankees as they look to get back to their best. Last season New York posted a credible 92-70, but lost the AL Wild Card Game to the Boston Red Sox. Though they have been to the playoffs for the last five years straight, they have gone no further than the ALCS.