Aaron Judge does not offer any two-headed equivocations when asked about his desire to remain with the Yankees long-term. Per MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch, Judge was pretty clear about his intentions, saying, “That would be a wish of mine, a goal of mine, to finish my career as a Yankee. If it was up to me, I would be a Yankee for the next 10 years, for sure.”
Of course, we’ve heard this sort of thing from players before. We’re not six months removed from Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, and Javier Baez offering similar pull quotes about their time with the Cubs, and they’ve all now played home games outside of the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago. As we learned from those Cubbies, the decision to stay in one uniform long-term isn’t strictly up to the player.
Granted, there’s no reason to think the Yankees would be in a position to deal Judge the way the Cubs sloughed off their stars, but he could be heading into his final season in the Bronx regardless. Judge will enter free agency after the 2022 season. And while the Yankees do not have any financial issues that should seriously threaten their ability to keep Judge, they do have a couple of hefty contracts on the books.
Gerrit Cole and Giancarlo Stanton have guaranteed contract for at least five years apiece beyond 2022, and if the winter plays out as expected, there may be another $100MM-to-$200MM deal on the books by the time spring training begins. It is largely assumed that, now that they’ve finally moved Gleyber Torres to the keystone, the Yankees will come away with one of the the winter’s top free agent shortstops,
Theoretically, reaching a long-term accord with the Yankees should be easy, though we know that’s hardly ever the case. The Yankees haven’t stayed successful by giving money away to every player that likes the cut of their jib in pinstripes.
Of course, Judge is a star by just about any measure. The 6’7″ outfielder has posted no worse than a 140 wRC+ in any season of the last five, including a 148 wRC+ mark last season. Sure, he has yet to replicate his 52 home run, 174 wRC+, 8.3 fWAR Rookie of the Year campaign that put him on the map in 2017, but in the four seasons since that breakout, Judge ranks 19th among all batters in total fWAR and tied for sixth by measure of wRC+.
Judge is also an underrated defender, an unequivocal plus in right field as well as a bit of an optical illusion because of his size. He racked up 11 defensive runs saved as a right fielder in 2021 while proving himself capable of manning the middle in a pinch. Judge played 158 innings in center, though with a mark of -2 defensive runs saved and -0.8 UZR.
The other drawback to a long-term deal for Judge is that the California native will turn 31 in April of the first year of any new deal that he signs. Judge has been durable in that he’s been a significant contributor in every season of his career. On the flip side, 2021 was just the second time Judge appeared in at least 70% of New York’s regular season games. There is risk, therefore, in signing Judge to a long-term pact, though if Judge is as enthusiastic as he seems, that calculation will certainly be part of GM Brian Cashman’s winter planning.
Hey good for him
I am glad he feels this way
Did the Yankees open the 2017 season with Judge on the roster? It seems like they would’ve been better off keeping him in Triple-A for the first couple weeks. If they had done that wouldn’t he be under team control for the next 2 seasons instead of just 1? It seems like a waste of resources to trade having Judge under contract for the entire 2023 season just so they could play him for an extra week or 2 in 2017. Also, I don’t know how many people have heard about this but at one point the Yankees offered to trade Judge plus other prospects to the Braves just to get one year of Heyward. Lucky for the Yankees the Braves opted to trade Heyward to the Cardinals for Shelby Miller instead. It’s crazy to imagine how the Braves roster would look if they did that. They wouldn’t have Swanson but they would have had Judge this whole time.
Judge was a September call up in 2016 if I remember correctly.
Just click the link on Judge’s name to see his career stats.
Instantly know he played 27 games in 2016 – save yourself the time of writing a bunch of questions and speculation about service time.
Internet is AMAZING!
You can still option a player down the next season and gain a year of service time. Mariners did it with JP Crawford and Shed Long in 2019.
Judge was not in trade and Yanks were not serious bidders for Heyward . They were looking at him but not for the prospect cost.
@billysbballz: What you are saying is in direct contrast to what I watched Jason Heyward say in a long interview less than a year ago. I’m sure you think you are right but forgive me if I choose to believe the actual MLB player who happened to be the headliner in the trade at that time. I promise you Jason Heyward knows more about trades involving him than you do.
@Mets “Missed War” Yeah I’m sure the Braves went to Heyward and told him the exact players they would be receiving back in a possible trade. Do you believe every thing you see and hear? I highly doubt that ever happened and yes I’m saying Heyward is lying or you are. Really though why would anyone watch a “long” interview with the irrelevant Jason Heyward? Why would anyone do that interview?
@The Mets “Missed WAR”, if you think this is the first time a ballplayer lied, then I’ve got many bridges to sell you. Don’t believe ANYONE let alone a player without thinking through what is being said. NEVER take anything serious at face value.
@mystery. Here’s the article. google.com/amp/s/www.sbnation.com/platform/amp/mlb…
@TheMets
Sure you don’t mean John Heyman the writer?
It was kind of a big deal. Judge and I believe Tyler Austin were making their big league debuts and hit back to back homers for their first hits.
Baby Bombers back to back
My first thought is time to strike and lock up the face of the Yankees. I can’t imagine Judge on another team. Get it done Cashman. I admire the big man. What’s not to like?
What’s not to like is him being 31. As a life long Yankees fanatic I would be crushed to see him leave but as a business person myself, I would NOT sign Aaron to any more than a 4-5 year deal. See A-Rod and Pujols contracts as to why not. We’ve already gotten the best years from Judge. Keep him a Yankee if we can but NOT at all costs. Outfielders are plentiful and we have some great ones up and coming in the years to come and if they don’t work out, just sign some more. Get rid of the slugs like Hicks and Gardener and get some proven talent in there and by all means keep Judge if he is reasonable about wanting to be a lifetime Yankee. But the cut off line should be 36-37 years old, NOT 41-42.
Me too Judgie!!!
How many times Do we need to hear that from a player looking for a contract? Same song 200th verse. Then as soon as some other teams offer 30 cents more they are gone.
I know signing one of the big name shortstops this off-season won’t preclude the Yankees from resigning Aaron Judge – but having four $25M-$35M AAV contracts on the payroll has to make it even a bit difficult for the Yankees depending on how luxury tax penalties are restructured. If the Yankees sign Correa or Seager, I don’t think Judge is a lock to return considering Jasson Domínguez will be ready to take his place.
How you know that Dominguez will be a big leaguer ? It’s funny to me when people put a lot of faith in prospects instead of proven big leaguers
Yankees are notorious for cutting the margins of their roster/payroll to stay under the luxury tax/reset penalties so they can make big moves without doing a ton of damage to their bottom line. This fall/winter they’ve already bought out Gradner, O’Day, and renegotiated with Joely Rodriguez to take a small pay cut. They’ve only saved about $4-5M so far, but it’s still early in the offseason. They miiiggghhhttt let go of Voit, who’s talented but constantly on the IL. That’s potentially another few million saved if he’s nontendered or traded. Plus with the new CBA, the luxury tax stuff could be vastly different.
All you need to understand about the Yankees is that Judge and Gary Sanchez are the only starting / major position players on their team that came up through their farm system (and who knows why Sanchez is still their Catcher). Of their pitching staff at the end of 2021, only Jordan Montgomery and a couple of set-up guys came through their system.
The Yankees buy players or trade for them – usually taking on salary. They intend to do the same this this offseason – even though we hear about their can’t miss / star prospects as we’ve heard about others consistently since Judge came up 6 years ago.
In todays MLB a team can’t spend their way to a championship like this. At some point the long-term contracts that keep going up in salary while the players productions is going down, catch up.
As I’ve written, 1/3’rd of the teams in each league make the payoffs. At least 1/3’d are in some stage of a rebuild / restructuring; of that at least 2-3 of the 5 teams left are faced with injuries, or guys have bad seasons, and some are even coming out of a rebuild but not yet ready to compete etc. With the #1 and #2 MLB payroll in all years since 2009 the Yankees still haven’t gotten to a WS in 12 years. It’s unbelievable to me that they don’t get a FO in there that can compete with other teams FO’s.
How about them Royals Sam?
@ Joe Says..
Seriously?
Most of their players come up through their farm system. They’ve never been anywhere near the top 2 MLB team spenders in a season. They made the WS in 2015 and won it in 2016.
Your point?
My point is enjoy that little bit of success. It’s all you will likely ever see. The Yankees are a threat to go every year because they care enough to put a team capable of winning on the field.
@ Joe Says..;
There is no franchise in MLB that has consistently had the payroll the Yankees have had the past 12 years that has anywhere near the record they have had.
Don’t look now, but MLB FO’s have constantly been evolving the past 10-12 years. The Yankees are further and further behind. This is like comparing American car companies to the Japanese car companies over the past 30 years. Japanese cars keep getting better and better for a reasonable price, American cars keep getting worse and worse but they always put out some gimmick car (that soon is forgotten) to excite the public and their shareholders.
Most MLB FO’s today are doing TQM – Total Quality Management. Some are more advanced that others. The Vanless want to talk about their rings form the 20’s 30’s 50’s early 60’s and a period in the 90’s.
Too bad the Royals aren’t one of those teams, huh?
It’s not that they care more than other teams, it’s just that they have the money to deal with the mistakes that Cashman has made. How the league hasn’t implemented a hard cap with a salary floor yet is beyond me. I guess those rich teams are where the league gets its money but a competitively balanced league just would be so much better as a baseball fan.
@ Joe Says..;
I see.
So you’re happy with “a threat to go every year because they care enough to put a team capable of winning on the field”?
That’s wonderful Joe. I’m happy for you and the others.
Now, let me ask you something about George – Do you think he would stand for this?
I actually remember George. He made many mistakes. I’m not bothered he’s no longer around.
JD as long as removing competitive balance draft picks go, revenue sharing goes and a salary floor is brought in.
@Joe –
Well, I see you put that little nugget to far better use than is was able to.
@Samuel –
If you’re merely a troll (I’m 50/50 on that, see below) than who cares.
If not: Bro. How can you be so blind. The reason big market clubs spend on payroll, is for the exact same reason we JUST SAW YA EFFIN BONEHEAD. The Braves won a World Series as a decided underdog.
First: they got in the playoffs. Which is a requirement, professor.
Second: they got hot at the right time.
& that is the reason the Yanks, Dodgers, & sox run high payrolls. To give themselves a chance. Actually, to give themselves perpetual chances. I have explained this to you multiple times. Are you just being difficult (i.e. trolling) or are you actually that stupid? For real.
As long as the Yanks roll out Boone as Manager, they neither care about being a World Series winning team or being a serious contender. You know damn good and well if he didn’t hit the greatest HR in Yankees history in 2003, he would never have been an ESPN analyst and certainly not a major league manager. No way in hell.
Up ahead folks we have the most pretentious poster on MLBTR once again writing paragraphs while saying nothing of substance
@ Ronk325;
Actually we do – but you didn’t write anything.
Notice how on the Internet those that can argue with reason resort to personal attacks on others.
* can’t *
L O L
Can’t proofread while being attacked from multiple sides.
–
Have a nice weekend. Enjoy Seager. In 2 years his contract will look like Stanton’s has the past 2 years and how both of them will be going forward.
I have no inside info, but I’m totally convinced that some working the smarter FO’s around MLB can’t help but laugh at what the Yankees continue to do.
Long ago Bob Dylan had a few lines that fits recent Yankees fans:
“They’re spoon feeding Casanova
To get him to feel more assured
Then they’ll kill him
With self-confidence
After poisoning him with words”
@Ronk325 Hey wait a minute! Are you saying that Mets Missed WAR and Samuel are the same guy?
Ah the old “I know you are but what am I” response famous among children. I don’t know what there is to retort since you legitimately said nothing in all of that.
Do you just write the exact same spiel every single time or do you have any new or original thoughts? Prolly not.
@Samuel cracks me up, man.
Check some of these:
A week ago, he was lecturing Cardinals fan about how their team plays “poor fundamental baseball”. They must have listened, because a couple days later they won 5(!) Gold Gloves. So.
Or:
Around the same time, he posted an essay on how the Yanks need to “start an analytics dept.” Bro. The Yanks – for better or worse – have had the *biggest* analytics departments since 2015!
How about a series of rather rambling dissertations from last April about how the Orioles are better than the Yanks. That is the HOTTAKE baseball equivalent of whiffing on a beach ball. With a tennis racket. Thrown underhand.
& that’s just a few of my personal favs. Lots & lots of similar gems wrapped in 1000 word salad posts.
This is either some Next Level Trolling ****, or he is the most intellectually challenged poster on the board.
Ducky,
I no longer read any of Samuel’s posts, nor do I read any reply he makes to anyone’s comments. As a result I’m a more knowledgeable and happier baseball fan.
Samuel:
The Yankees have 2 homegrown position players? So? What is the MLB average? The Padres only have Fernando Tatis Jr.. Tatis was originally signed by the White Sox, but before he played a minor league game was traded to SD. If Luis Campusano is a major playing time for the 2022 Padres, he will qualify.
What an entertaining cat and dog fight. There’s an imbalance in Major League Baseball that a patch work of fixes has done little to rectify. There are haves and have nots. It’s kind of always been that way. I enjoy it when teams that don’t have win a WC. Not just when they make the playoffs. The yankees winning a WC is meaningless except to their bean counting fan base who obsess over such things so they can hold it over every one else’s head. Children. The Red Sox, Dodgers, Giants, Cardinals, and others, have rich histories of success and good for them. Many other franchises? Not so much. When the Astros won I was happy for their fans. When the cheating scandal broke, the whole of baseball fans took a dump on them. Really? Children. I wish the Pirates had won more in their short window but it wasn’t to be. Now they’re the brunt of everyone’s ire. Because they stink. Really? Children.
Enjoy the game. Enjoy the players.
And grow up.
Woof.
Thanks for the lecture, pops.
Personally, I want to see the Yanks in the postseason so they – at the very least – have a chance to do what the 2021 Braves just did. Not to “hold” something over “every one elses heads.” What a silly & grossly inaccurate statement.
I am certainly no spokesman for Yankee Nation or whatever. But I am more than comfortable saying that is the same reason the rest of the fellas on the board do to.
You devote alarming amounts of time trolling Yankee fans (it’s pretty much your deal on the board) yourself , so – obviously – you will stand up & salute the same kind of BS. Don’t be a dick, & we’ll talk some baseball. Be a dick & – more than likely – at least one of us will react accordingly.
Truly funny to see you trying to paint yourself as some kind of “voice of reason”. Nothing could be further from the truth. Want proof? Just read how insulting your most recent post is.
As my grandpere would say, “screw those guys.”
I am absolutely not painting myself as anyone above anyone else, I am nothing more than an obnoxious yankee hater. There are many yankee fans who are an embarrassment to baseball, crowing over their success and then throwing crap onto the field when they don’t get handed another victory. You sir, are not one of those, you are merely a good fan of the team. I’m fine with that. My team has fans that are equally despicable, there’s no monopoly on childish, boorish. pathetic behavior. My comment is really more directed at the people who can’t leave the Astros in the rear view mirror or who can’t pass on an opportunity to bash another organization for lack of success, as if they’re not trying. There are certain teams who unequivocally have a huge advantage over other teams and baseball has done precious little to rectify that state of affairs. That means some teams are going to win more than others. The haves lording over the have nots. When have the yankees ever traded away someone who meant a lot to the franchise because they couldn’t afford to keep him?
I guess, in the end, I just don’t see the payoff for guys like yourself & Samuel who post on Yankee articles for the sole purpose of insulting us, our team, it’s players/management/owner/fans, etc. & trying (successfully) to start arguments.
The desire to do that is quite beyond me.
You can’t even say it’s retaliatory as Yankee fans on the board don’t show up on Royals & mets articles with a similar intent. & – boy howdy – would that ever be easy to do with both of those teams, serious.
It isn’t even “rivalry”.
Rather it is accomplishing nothing more than (purposefully) causing discord.
It must be fun. Or – at the least – you guys must see/feel some type of reward or value in it. What that is, is quite beyond me, however.
How many “Frazier for Trout” posts are enough?
50? 100? 10000000?? Ya know? & in the end, all you are doing is polluting something that’s relatively (STILL) pure: talking baseball with the fellas.
I was raised in NYC.
Most (all?) of the Yankee fellas on the board were too. As such, we will be outspoken. We will tell you to take those sorry, overdone routines & shove ’em up your behind. Because that is where that **** belongs.
One of the most important lessons I have learned running a company is: don’t get pushed around & **try** not to be a dick. I’m good enough at that naturally that any effort on my part to do so purposefully never turns out well.
_____________________________________________
Or whatever.
Free Country. Free Speech. Even when it’s pointless & merely a vehicle of division.
{shrugs one shoulder}
Lol Dominguez has played about 40 games in the lower minor leagues . But hey he’s just about ready to replace a perennial MVP candidate
The standard “I want to finish my career here” statement.
“Anyways, I’d love to finish my career as a Yan— hang on, that’s my agent on the phone, I need to take this call.”
There’s a long way to go between now and new contract signing, and while I don’t think they would trade Judge under almost any circumstances (in the past, the few times they’ve traded top-tier players, they were usually not farm-developed). Best guess, if they decided they couldn’t/didn’t want to sign him is a QO, assuming that’s still here. He’s actually a very good player.
The Yankees should be more inclined to trade Judge while his stock is at an all time high. He just gets injured way too much and by the time he hits FA, he will be an older first time FA then most top guys. They should trade him to a team like the Brewers for Corbin Burnes + one of their top 3 prospects
If I’m the Brewers, I hang up the phone.
Why would the Brewers do that? Burnes alone is arguably worth more than judge.
You’re joking, right? No way the Brewers deal their ace and a top prospect for one year of Judge. If I’m Stearns in that scenario I’m blocking Cashman’s number.
Seriously, Metsin7? More like Burnes for Judge, Torres and Severino.
That’s not even worth giving either. Judge can grab anything where his stock is at, I remember one time reading that they were offering judge in a trout deal at one point.
Why would the Brewers do that deal for even a cost-controlled Burnes alone? Plus a top prospect too???
I’m willing to bet that the Yankees and Judge end up working something out to keep him in the Bronx long term. He’s the current face of the franchise. Yankees have been trimming payroll on the margins for years so they can reset their luxury tax penalties to acquire premium players, and they’re doing it again this winter. They will make room for him.
Probably 5/200 or something close.
Probably not that high of an AAV, but 5 years does sound about right. Even Trout doesn’t make 40M per year and he’s an all-time great when healthy.
No way are the giving him $40M AAV. Maybe if he had an average of 140 games+ but not with his track record. And I’m all for signing Judge but something like:
6/$185 or 8/$210
Problem is they aren’t there yet. They’re on the hook for $97 million for Stanton, Cole, LeMahieu, & Hicks for the next 4 years. Add Correa at $30 million & thats $127 million with only $80 million left for the other 30 players to stay under the luxury tax cap. Add another $25 million for Judge & you are left with less than $2 million per remaining player. Have fun with that team. They’d end up paying Judge twice, once to him and once in tax. This is the same reason the Red Sox traded Mooky. No room for him under the tax.
@Stat_head You’re assuming that the Yankees won’t exceed the LTT again. It’s no secret that this year was a reset. They’ve gone over many times in the past so I don’t see why paying anyone twice going forward would be an issue.
The RS traded Betts because he has stated many times he wanted to reach free agency. Bloom also assessed that the 2020 RS roster didn’t have enough talent to be competitive even with Betts on the team. Obviously, Betts changed his mind when he reached LA and was made a fair market offer in the heights of a pandemic.
Praying for Aaron that he does so hard <3
Translation: “I’ll leave in free agency then pull a Griffey and play my last year with the Yankees at age 40”
He’ll be a Yankee as long as he wants… he’s the face of the Yankees. One of the things worthy of respect with the Yankees is that they take care of their own. I’d be shocked if he moves on next offseason. He’ll probably get a nice 5-6 year deal for a boatload of money. 25/30 million a year. If not 30 plus.. he’ll get his years and money for sure, even at 31. And most likely with the Yankees.
NY is funny like that. Remember, they used to listen whenever Jeter would proclaim his love of the city, then give him 20m a year, even tho he couldn’t move a full step in either direction at SS any longer towards the end.. All to keep a probable (then) HOF guy in stripes an entire career.
Cano thought he was going to be the next anointed one, but was given a rude awakening with Jeter still active at the time. Judge is another matter.. Believe they will stumble all over themselves to keep him in the FO, even the more tight fisted Hal. He understands how the base of fans he has are.
This may not sit right with some, but is my 2c.. If they would clean house 1 time and get it over with.. The nasty media would have it’s field day and maybe get over it. By cleaning house I meant the FO and go into a possible rebuild when/if a time does happen where it becomes required. Thought it did few years back when they moved Andrew Miller and several other pieces. Take 1-2y off, but they didn’t.
Not full blown re-do, like Pirates, KC, Orioles as examples seem to be always in, but move the short term guys, get what can and take the media heat. If the people in charge can’t take it? Why were they hired? Writers are at their best whining anyway, so just typespace being wasted anyway.
@johnsilver And what’s the shame in that? He was the captain of the team. The Orioles gave Cal Ripken the same treatment although he moved to 3B.
I don’t know where Cano fits in your narrative since he has always been a second baseman. and definitely didn’t hold the same stature as Jeter.
As for your 2C, this is the NY Yankees we’re talking about. They spend and spend more. You’re too focused about the media and reacting to what someone may write is no way to run a business.
YankeesBleacherCreature….Don’t waste your time replying to Mr. Red Sox…aka John Silver who has never had anything positive to say about the Yankees……by the way agree with you comment totally!
Not true regarding my never having anything positive to say abut NYY. I’ve posted numerous nice things about them over the years. Some things negative also of course and yes.. Have been a die-hard Sox fan for over 50y, but that’s beside the story.
My favorite positive NYY talk-about is the friendly Roy White, who used to chat much of the time whenever NY would come up to WH from Ft Lauderdale during ST years ago. Could always count on him for humor, smiles and handshakes for everyone year after year whenever he showed up and his later years with NY? A time when animosity between Sox-NY players was very real sometimes.
Please Rocky.. When spewing the nonsense, at least get some part(s) of it correct. ur post could be in the NYT editorials for all the nonsense it contains.
Judge: “I don’t want to finish my career here in New York”
Cause we are know he would say such a thing even if it was true.
I’m reading this as he wants a 10 year deal. That’s not going to come from the Yankees, if anyone.
Aaron Judge turning down the Mets POBO or GM job.
I admire Judge, however he plays in 70% of his team’s games (on average) and he’ll be 31 in free agency. It’s a tough call when it comes down to do it and depending on how this coming season goes the organization may have to make a difficult decision and consider trading him.
The only thing that jeopardizes a Judge reunion is Hal Steinbrenner and his ridiculous insistence on resetting the luxury tax every other year despite having the most financial resources in the majors.
5/$135….7/$200
I also see him at 1B the last 2 years of the 7 year deal.
JD will be in CF & Duran will be in RF by then. Plus Gardner LOL.
Me too
Ok. I highly doubt a lot of players will out play their 2017 selfs. The ball was juiced and that year made the homer boring and mundane
The 2019 ball was even more juiced.
I mean even without the ball juiced he’s still a threat to hit 30-50 hrs driving in 90-100 rbis a season and still play good glove in rf
Just once I’d love a guy to give an honest answer: “I want to finish my career with whoever will pay me the most money.”
Not sure it’s correct to say Judge is also an underrated defender. It’s pretty well accepted he’s one of the best defensive RFers in the game.
I do feel like he just asked for a 10-year contract when he said if it was up to me I’d be a Yankee for the next 10 years. If so, the Yankees should pass on that. He’s a very good athlete, but not sure how that big frame and swing will age on the north side of 35. If they are planning to sign him, it might make sense to do it before (or if) they sign one of the top SS’s, and before they’re negotiating with him when he’s another year old.
That’s a good take, @RobM.
Judge is a borderline elite defensive player. The Big Fella held his own out there in center. I was impressed. Hasn’t played there since college but his lack of experience hardly showed.
I can see a 7+ year extension. Gave Hicksy a 7 year extension, & he came with greater health concerns. The Yanks also like to tack on an extra year or two (see: DJ) or options (various relievers & GGBG) in order to lessen the AAV hit.
I can see a 7+ year deal with an option (or perhaps series of options) that would bring a possible 10th year in play.
The Yanks have one of (if not *the*) biggest analytics departments in MLB. However. Their financial dept is actually *bigger*. Those guys are excellent at increasing the overall value of a contract while lowering the AAV hit.
Judge isn’t going anywhere, both sides will come to an agreement either this year or next. He is making 17 million this year, and I see him getting a 6/185 million contract next year.
I don’t see Judge’s body holding up to be a Yankee for another 10 years but six years as slider said is a solid guess. After that go year-to-year.
“The Yankees haven’t stayed successful by giving money away to every player that likes the cut of their jib in pinstripes.”
Error in judgement will be underpaid if he stays put. But I guess he will like the cut of his jib.
hoping he’ll be a yankee for life. you need to watch him day in and day out to fully appreciate what he brings on both sides of the ball and the clubhouse
The Yankees have kept the player they consider the “Face Of The Franchise” since they let Babe Ruth finish his career with the Boston Braves. Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle, Munson, Donnie Baseball and Jeter. Now it is Judge’s turn and he will retire a Yankee ( assuming he stays healthy of course).
Now it’s Gardy’s turn. Let Judge walk and make sure the real face of the franchise is brought back.
It’s only a matter of time before they overpay with with 25-30mil aav for 7-10 years. Maybe when Cole’s deal is half way through. He’s a free agent after next season. I bet they get something done before a potential lockout
Extra extra read all about it.
The real shame is that Cashman’s foolish and wasteful trade for Stanton and the market reality of what it could cost to sign Judge long term (through age 35) means that the Yankees will likely have to trade him this winter — or see him walk in return for a draft pick a year from now.
Stanton was not wasteful. Did you watch him last year ( especially in Fenway Park)?
He was also coming off a NL MVP year hitting 59 HRs at the time of the trade and Marlins throwing in cash.
Stanton AAV = $22.7MM.
Or: What Martinez is currently making.
I bet the Pirates are calling the Spanks about Judge right now…..
“Spanks”
Pretty much. We probably do spank the hell outta whatever team you root for.
Bob Tillman was traded for Elston Howard. So maybe he’s a yankee fan. Or not.
Well, he could sign for league minimum each year and stay for 10-years as a Yankee.
ALL RISE!
Heck at 30+ years old and often injured, I would love to see the Yanks offer him a Stanton-like contract.
The Yankees also know what Judge brings to the table outside of his talent on the field. They know he is absolutely adored by his fans, to the point they installed “The Judge’s Chambers” into their stadium stands. The know how much marketing wise they could make off him. His popularity still is at high amongst all of baseball.
In jersey sales:
2017- #1 in baseball
2018- #1 in baseball
2019- #2 in baseball behind Bryce Harper(on a brand new team with the Phillies)
2020- #2 in baseball behind Mookie Betts(on brand new team with the Dodgers)
2021- #7 in baseball (granted this is a larger drop off, but he also is behind Betts, Tatis Jr, Acuna, Baez, Kershaw, Bellinger. 3 of them fresh World Series champs, 2 of them the face of team with a large fan base pool and 1 of them traded to a new team mid season).
That fact he is still in the top 10 5 years straight when on the same team shows the buying power he brings to the table. People are still buying his jersey at a high clip.
The Yankees can easily find a way to offsets costs with clever marketing techniques. Fans come to the game to see Judge more than most other players on the Yankees, he drives in ticket sales. Someone above mentioned Cano, no one was coming to Yankee stadium to see Cano play like they do for Judge. Just like they came for Jeter, the fans come for Judge. Just look at the amount of fans you see in judge robes and wigs at the games. Judge has also embraced the New York media in the same way that Jeter had which many players don’t do. He understands what it means to play under the pressure pot that is New York.
Locking him into a life term deal may be costly, but the pros for it at this point outweigh the cons. Will his skills taper off? Yes, without a doubt. Will it look like a bad contract towards the end of his career? Yes, but so will almost any mega deal given to a player. You make these contracts knowing the tail end is gonna taper off. For a team that puts great emphasis on both attendance at their games and their world wide brand appeal, the Yankees simply need to lock him in. Buy out the last arbitration year and give him a 10/year at a competitive annual yearly salary. Do some negotiations but make the offer so it’s competitive enough for him to decide it’s worth more being the face of the franchise that’s one of the top sports franchises globally rather than and extra 1-2 million a year.
@chris6485 This is precisely spot on. Well said.
Focus on a full season