11:54am: Judge and the Yankees have agreed to a $19MM guarantee, reports Mark Feinsand of MLB.com (Twitter links). That’s the exact midpoint between the filing figures, although the deal contains additional possible incentives. Judge would make an additional $250K each were he to win the AL MVP and World Series MVP awards this season.
11:35am: The Yankees and Aaron Judge have agreed to a contract to avoid arbitration, reports Jon Heyman of the New York Post (Twitter link). They’d been slated to go through a hearing this afternoon, but the last-minute settlement dodges that necessity.
Judge and the Yankees had been set to proceed through the process with the largest gap in filing figures between any player-team pairing this season. Judge’s camp had filed for a $21MM salary, while the Yankees countered at $17MM. MLB’s arbitration system doesn’t permit adjudicators to land on a midpoint; had they gone to a hearing, the arbitrators would’ve had to set Judge’s salary at either $17MM or $21MM. By avoiding the process, the parties can come together at a mutually-agreeable middle ground. That avoids any potential acrimony arising in an adversarial hearing for the face of the franchise.
This was the final season of arbitration-eligibility for Judge, who’s a few months away from his first trip to the open market. He turned down a seven-year, $213.5MM extension offer during Spring Training. Betting on himself looks as if it’ll pay off handsomely, as the slugger will be arguably the top talent available.
Judge topped MLBTR’s initial Power Ranking of the upcoming class a month ago, and he’s mashed at a .288/.369/.606 clip since that point. He enters play Friday owner of a .302/.379/.663 line overall, and his 27 home runs are six clear of anyone else in the game. He’s set to hit free agency in advance of his age-31 campaign and looks to be on track for an eight-plus year deal if he continues performing at an elite level for the season’s final three-plus months.
As most are probably aware by now, Judge’s incredible 2022 production would not have been admissible in his arbitration case. The arb process typically takes place over the offseason, with salaries decided in advance of Opening Day. Last winter’s lockout froze league business for over three months, leaving insufficient time for players, teams and arbitrators themselves to sort out all the cases during Spring Training. Hearings thus lingered into the season, but MLB and the Players Association agreed that all cases had to based on the player’s pre-2022 body of work.
Judge, of course, had a robust career track record even before this season’s MVP-caliber first half. He entered the year a career .276/.386/.554 hitter, collecting a trio of All-Star appearances and two Silver Slugger awards in the process. The Fresno State product hit .287/.373/.544 with 39 homers and 98 runs batted in last season, a platform performance that’d set him up for a lofty raise relative to his $10.175MM salary from 2021.
The resolution of Judge’s case officially closes the books on the 2021-22 arbitration class. 31 players had situations that lingered into the season, although the majority reached in-season agreements or multi-year contract extensions. Of the 13 players who proceeded to hearings this season, four won their case, according to the Associated Press.
As exciting as judge is- I’d be leery to hand him 8 years. Love what he brings to the game, though!
As compared to the Padres giving Tatis how much and for how long when he had played what amounted to not even a full season of games?
well tatis is 23 judge is gonna be 31 next season
David Ortiz drove in 127 runs when he was 40. He helped the Red Sox win World Championships when he was 31 and when he was 37.
Imagine Judge on Ortiz-level PEDs? That would be something to watch.
The Red Sox have never won “World Championships” of anything other than Team America.
Yes, Chucky — I saw your other post in another thread making this . . . point.
Jay Leno beat you to this decades ago in a stand-up routine about the judges in the Mr. Universe contest:
“To hell with the other planets! We don’t want to see anymore Martians, Venusians or Jupiterians! We’re going with the Earth boy!”
Imagine Yordan or Randy Johnson on Ortiz-level PEDs.
Yordan Alvarez is a scary good hitter, man. He is killing it on offense. Are you absolutely positive he’s not on PEDs already?
I joke, I joke.
“anymore” should’ve read “any more.” Oops.
He’s so big he might as well be. Same for Judge.
You can count on your fingers the number of DHs that were as good as Ortiz at age 40. Actually, all you need is one finger. No one else is within 20% of Ortiz in OPS+ or wRC+.
What you are trying to say is that Judge will be as valuable when he is a full time DH the last 6-7 years of the 10 year extension he wants an that is just not the case. No defense or poor defense = less value.
$36 million AAV over 10 years is what Judge is rumored to have been asking for from the Yankees and he will definitely be a DH for most of any deal he signs.
There has never been a DH that made $36 million AAV. Ortiz made $16 million his last 2 seasons. Yankees offered Judge $30.5 million over 7 seasons and that was more than fair for a guy that will be 31 to START the deal.
If I am the Yankees brass, I am thinking that we dodged a bullet by not signing him long term. He is far more likely to become Cabrera or Pujols the last few years of any deal, even a 7 year deal, than he is to be Ortiz.
Did you say David Ortiz??? Ok… David Ortiz
Ortiz didn’t use PED. He never once tested positive after testing was put in place for all players.
Imagine Ortiz if he actually used PED!!!
Great sample size of… 1.
Ortiz is a rarity. Not many big men are productive that long into their 30s. And of course PEDs might have been a factor then.
can you explain to me why
1) We did not have Stanek ready right after the Hicks HR? It was obvious by pitch 5 that Pressly didn’t have it last night.
2) Having just blown away Gallo on 3 pitches, and having LaMahieu down 1-2 count, we pussy-footed around with him and walked him? Stanek was having no control issues.
3) ESPECIALLY 3) Judge : WHY DID WE NOT JUST WALK DUDE AFTER 3-0 COUNT????????
I almost NEVER second-guess the brilliant Astros these last several years, but 3 seeming idiocies in 1 inning? Houston sports-talk radio must have melted down last night.
Don’t forget about Manny.
Manny got caught twice!
David Ortiz is an outlier amongst outliers, a 99.9th percentile outcome, even more rare than that. Bad idea to give out a contract with such expectations.
14/341M is a lot, but you have to remember that also bought out his arbitration years, We can’t estimate what his total arbitration number would have been right now, but when he finishes those years the remainder of his salary will surely be less than what he would get on the open market.
Correa said that but his injury history took its toll, and Tatis wishes he was as healthy as Correa was.
I guess you don’t like the Tatis contract. But we’re talking about Aaron Judge here. Are you really totally ok with signing Judge for his age 31-38 seasons?
Tatis will be “only” 35 when his contract ends. 35 is still a lot younger than 38.
I also think that San Diego is much thirstier for legendary players to bolster their team’s image. If Wil Myers is top 10 in most franchise statistics, you know your team has a meager history.
Here’s the reality: signing Judge, you know exactly what you’re getting. He will be good & mostly healthy through age 34 or 35 season & you will eat 3-4 declining years, probably with injuries.
Signing Tatis: Is a big question mark that appears to be more questionable with each injury. Not because of his talent – he’s plain awesome with a bat. Because he’s barely started his contract and hasn’t been healthy for any of it. And, I say that as a Tatis fan & someone that agrees with their decision to lock him up with that contract. It was worth the risk.
So, really it’s a tossup that will be decided by hindsight judges.
@yankeeclipper
“He will be good and mostly healthy…”
Boy, do you have a short memory! Being healthy this year is quite the change for Mr Judge. And the year ain’t over yet!
Judge is not asking for just his age 36-38 seasons to be in pinstripes. He asked the Yankees for a 10/$360 million deal that would start with his age 31 season.
Mostly healthy? Judge has not completed a season without a trip to the DH since 2017. Since then he has missed 156 games to injuries. That is nearly a full season worth of games missed in just 4 seasons and one of those seasons was the shortened 2020 season. He has missed 29% of the games his team has played. He is the definition of injury-prone.
Here is the reality; starting at age 31, next season, Judge will start to suffer even more injuries than he has in the past and his play will begin to decline just like all players do. His defense will decline faster than his offense and by his age 34-35 seasons he will be a full time DH.
You will eat the last 4-5 years of the 10 year deal he wants at $36 million AAV.
That is the reality.
Stymee & Pads Fan: No, not a short memory; but what’s important is that he identified the reason for his injuries in his offseason training and he (as well as the team, collectively) went in an entirely different direction, which resulted in better performance and fully healthy seasons for *multiple players*.
I do take that into consideration. When you look at the number of injuries, the reason identified for the injuries, & the changes & their results, one cannot argue it appears to have been successful by all measures.
-Of course, time will tell. Perhaps he will remain injury prone and take annual trips to the IL. It is entirely plausible. He’s had more healthy seasons than Tatis though, and Tatis is only 24 or whatever, which is the point I guess.
Clipper: You don’t know Judge will be good at age 34-35. You don’t know that at all.
Cosmo, you are right, hence my last paragraph. I based that assessment off of the (conservative) normal ages of decline for players performing at his level. Nobody can predict anything with him because he’s so unique.
Cosmo2: you also dont know that Tatis will be good for the rest of his 23 and 24 yr season and going forward. Is it more likely yes but he could also end up like Kingery or Inciarte. Whats funny is in the past 4 seasons 2019-22YTD since when Tatis started and is younger has less games played than Judge who is older. There is already talks of Tatis moving to the outfield because of all the time missed.
Finally my contract is done!
The years aren’t necessarily bad depending on the AAV of the deal. The universal DH helps alleviate some of the concern as long as the backend of the deal isn’t absurdly expensive
So the Tigers contract with Cabrera is really ok after all, because he now only plays DH?
Man, these days, I’d be leery to hand anyone eight years. Speaking of long term deals, I’m curious to see what the Halos do with Ohtani?
Either A)drastic overpay that along with Trout’s massive contract hobble the franchise for years, or B)watch him leave in free agency and get a draft pick for him when he signs elsewhere
I feel ya, Rsox!
I’m feeling Ohtani to the Mets happening, he wants to be paid and he wants to go to ownership who doesn’t care about spending money on talent. Angels have enough on their plate paying Mike Trout and Moreno does not have Steve Cohen money. Mark my words Ohtani is going to be the face of baseball and the highest paid baseball player. Given the universal DH and the fact he is a legit number 1 ace as well as a smasher, I can see Cohen giving him 10yr/500 million. In New York, it’d be great for baseball because the truth is Northeast fans like Philly, New York, and Boston demand their teams win. That is what fans expect and Ohtani deserves….
Going to be the face of baseball? Seems like he is already, man. He’s everywhere. I think last season’s incredible performance put him there to stay for awhile. He may share that mantel with Tatis, Vlad, Judge or Soto, but I think he’s there.
I would not be surprised at all if the Mets make the strongest run at him. Here’s the question that I’m not sure we can answer with Ohtani yet: Will he choose money over destination? He specifically chose the west coast and loves it there, reportedly.
It’ll be interesting for sure. But all things being equal, my money is always on Cohen’s money, when it comes to money.
That’s ridiculous.
This is baseball. Your idea and concept is truly disgusting……
I mean, a half a billion dollars is probably enough to convince Ohtani to add a couple of thousand miles to the trip home.
That said, he can get on the freeway in any direction where he is already at to find owners willing to spend to win and it wouldn’t suprise me at all to see him in Dodger blue when the time comes
He did say he loves the West Coast but the reason I say the Mets is that above everything else he wants to go to a winning ball club that will be World Series contenders. Cohen has the money and the Mets have the starting rotation to win it all. It seems the Red Sox and Yankees suddenly have budgets and the Yankees have to pony up for Aaron Judge. The Dodgers are a big possibility since he does like the West Coast. Something in me thinks Philly will make a play for him too. It will be one of those three teams I believe and I just think having Ohtani in New York the Mets can finally compete against the Yankees for the love of NYC….
Let’s look at the sports world shall we…..Max NBA player contract now at 50 million a year, DeShaun Watson got 230 million over 5 years completely guaranteed, Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes are also near 50 million a year…Mike Trout is making over 40 million a year……So is 50 million a year asking too much for Ohtani? I don’t think so he’s the best player in the game, he’s the only one capable of a triple crown and a cy young award.
BORINGGGG
In reference to the settling instead of going ARB
You spelled AWESOME wrong.
Leave your love life out of this, tstats.
Ouch low blow…
Yasssssss
Hey fluffer think this is cutting into your job. Line of guys waiting for you to fluff em up
Judge was asking $21MM. The two sides probably settled at $20,995!
Frankly, surprised it took them this long to find a compromise number.
Boom! Cashman read my recommendation & raised $2MM to meet Judge and avoid the unnecessary slamming of an MVP-level player & the face of the best sports franchise in N. American sports.
Now, go crush Houston!
Boooooooo!
Why did Stanek throw a strike?
Well articulated rebuttal goastros.
I wasn’t trying to make a rebuttal.
Goastros! Missed you around here, my friend. How you doing?
Good, yourself? October came early!
Yeah, man. Sure seems that way. So far, hanging in there. I’d venture to guess no better or worse than most, my friend. Trying to enjoy baseball, really enjoying the Yankees, & pleasantly surprised with Cashman’s apparent offseason genius.
Ostensibly, Cashman has proven he is one of the premiere GMs in the game, imho. He literally turned this roster without spending any money, and redeveloped the entire defense.
I believe this season we are witnessing the full potential of the current Yankees squad.
I doubt it. They’re pretty old
@yc tbh i think this was cash’es plan all along in 16 nyy had a horrific season (at least to nyy and stl standards) but we’re still competitive and still kinda in it till sep. 17 i feel was an outlier and a few guys played above there heads and they got to an alcs in the mid of a retool. 18~21 more retooling while being competitive and either playing in the playoffs or in until late sept. while getting there finances under control while rebuilding the farm. now in 22 we’re seeing the fruits of cash’es work. imo as someone who doesn’t follow nyy cash seems to have this team ready to complete for a chip for years, tbh i think a lot of cash hate stems from “we’re the gd mf’ing yankees and you refuse to get player x for y dollars or trade our top prospects for player z” and in reality i feel a lot of them years i feel like cash took a hard non fan look at the team and decided this isn’t a ws club, a playoff club yes but to many pieces short of a ws club so i’m standing pat. overall i think cash has done a great job reshaping nyy especially in the harsh environment of nyy and your guys media (it can be relentless at times) also i wouldn’t be surprised if cash doesn’t make a big splash in the trade market this year, the few nyy games i caught flipping tur the tv they look real legit.
Brodie: Yes, sir, that’s a really accurate take, imo. We get spoiled man, no doubt about it. I’ve been very critical of their moves. But, I said in the offseason, “I don’t agree with what Cash did, I still think we need more, so this is either going to prove him a genius or a moron.”
So far, he looks every bit the genius and your long-term, non-fan outlook rings very true, my friend.
@yc also i think cash is making the moves he is because of hal, and even if old man gorge was still around i think he would have to adapt to hal’s style or he would be art 2.0. when gs ran things the gm had a blank check and when contracts went south trade them off with a large cash considerations. ff to today’s game teams don’t want bad contracts even if semi full of hundos was part of the deal. if a team is taking on bad contracts now via trade they want a top 5 prospect or 2. imo what made nyy so dangerous in the late 90’s an early 00’s is they grew most of there talent then filled the holes with fa. towards the end of gs’s rein he got away from that and nyy slowly fell apart. imo i feel like hal and cash understand how modern fo’s work and how important a good farm is (look at the season where nyy at one point had the whole aaa team playing and they were still winning). a lot of the ny idiots are gonna cry for the gs days but these are the same fans that want to give a galljion dollars to judge and any other top fa year end and year out.
btw by no means am i saying ny fans are idiots i’m just talking about that 5% of ny fans that are idiots and bang there drums so loud it deafens the true fans.
Brodie: You are correct, sir, in everything you said. In fact, the 90s teams weren’t a result of GS operations – he was suspended for part of those early 90s. They were the brain-child of Gene “Stick” Michaels who was running the show and put together that Yankees dynastic core. Once Gene left, GS went back to what he did best…. Wrote a Reggie check: bought the highest-prices FAs.
So, you are 100% correct. And if Cashman can continue to tunnel his inner Stick Michaels, Yankees are looking good for the next 10 years, brother.
Good stuff, Brodie. I always appreciate your posts, man.
@yc ty ty i try and call them how i see them, thou it’s easier to be objective of other teams than my own (cards), tbh thou i think i’m a little harder on my birds than most cards fans then again just like nyy fans except a ws every year i’m the same way.
Brodie: As I’ve said before, man, you all are just like Yankees fans, except your fans are *not* obnoxious! Lol.
@yc thanks for the kind words sir but unfortunately the cards have obnoxious fans as well and it seems the lot of them find there way here and make the rest of us look bad. then again you can understand my plight because you deal with it just on a much larger scale.
Yeah glad they they avoided that unnecessary BS. I still remember the fiasco the Betances arb was.
Yeah. Whenever involving Randy Levine in a discussion can be avoided, it’s a good thing.
I give him 4-5 years max of productive play. Somebody is going to give him 300 million and get burned bad.
Well, unless in that 4-5 year span he helps them to multiple championships as the team leader and face of their franchise, while performing at elite levels. Then, it’s pretty worth it.
Art Moreno is salivating at giving him that contract.
Haha! You mean the contract after he hits FA again at 38? I agree.
Even Moreno may be running a bit dry in the mouth with all the big contracts he already slobbered over.
The question is not whether he’s worth $17 million or $21 million. He’s worth both.
You, sir, should be in the HOF. It’s a travesty that you aren’t.
Will never forget the day of that plane crash as long as I live. Brutal
I wasn’t born, wasn’t even a twinkle yet, but I could see why that would be one of those, “you never forget where you were when you heard” moments.
I remember it well. Him and Nettles were my childhood heroes. I cried all that afternoon.
i was 9 and (lucky for me) it was the first traumatic event of my life
damn yc you make feel super old i was a sophomore in hs when that happened and 2.5 years later i was in basic with the usaf. also that year i remember hating tlr for a few years for blowing the series against the dbacks for leaving the starter in to long and az goes on to beat the yanks to win the ws.
Haha! Sorry Brodie, if it means anything to ya, I’ve got old bones, brother. I’m a throwback at heart, man. Still believe in God, country, integrity, & pretty much everything else my generation doesn’t that was good.
@yc it does a bit but i’m also a 36 yo going on 26
He deserves more and yes, Turman Munson should be in the HOF.
Time for Farhan to open the purse strings this off-season. Gotta give the fans something to be excited about once in a while.
107 win seasons are not enough for fans to be excited about?
Since a settlement number hasn’t been published , seems to me they’re working on a long term deal , probably already in place barring crossing the I’s and T’s or arb hearing would not be cancelled.
I take that back lol 19mill agreed
8 years is too much. But if that is what it takes the Yanks will have to go there. They can’t let him walk. So… 8 @ 300M huh. Wow.
I expect him to walk.
Unbelievable that Hal Steinbrenner is nickel-and-diming Aaron Judge – the face of baseball (aside from Trout). Judge is having an amazing MVP season and the Yankees care more about trying to save an extra 2 mill. It’s ridiculous.
No way does Judge stay with the Yankees after this season. I say the Giants sign him to a 9-year 285MM deal.
Even though players and owners are both greedy, I side with Judge on this one. The stats he has put up each season means he’s been underpaid every year but he’s still trying to be cheated out of money.
Good god… judge, the face of baseball. Hes ugly as fu…
He’s the face of Yankees baseball no question. The only candidate for legends row. Since Jeter only one candidate possibility for legends row. Judge. Time will tell. Let him go. Be looking for another 25 years for another homegrown Yankee legend type.
No, he isn’t ugly. Nor is his wife:
nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/1213…
But, please — share with us a photo of your face, Adonis. Let’s compare.
Are only pretty people like you allowed to comment on others looks? Judge looks like Shrek.
Is that what Twitter told you, BGF?
As a general rule, I avoid commenting disparagingly on people’s looks. It’s literally superficial.
@Fink That’s to be expected whenever someone doesn’t have anything of substance to say. Put someone else down to make yourself feel better.
I guess so. I just don’t get how it would make anybody feel good. I don’t understand what the payoff is. As Squidward would say: Whatever!
It doesn’t make me feel good… it’s just an observation. The guy is ugly. He’s a great ballplayer, but ugly. The comment was “face of baseball”… It’s an ugly face.
He’s not ugly. Randy Johnson was ugly.
ugly or not them guys are loaded and most likely have wives/gf’s that most of us here that post comments wish we had looks or not.
This will have no affect on where Judge signs. Neither would it mater which side won the Arb hearing or if the Yanks would have given him $25M for this season. He has been intent on hitting FA and will do so.. It will matter not what was paid to him prior to his next contract. What will matter is who offers the most money. If that team is the Yanks, he will happily sign. The only way he takes lower than the highest bidder is if (this would never happen but it is what would have to happen) is if it were a team like the Pirates. A’s , Marlins, etc that are not competing out bid everyone. Then he would go to the highest competing team.
Normally I’d agree that a FA will always go to the highest bidder. But with Judge, I can’t see him leaving NY as long as the money is close.
In what universe is 7 years and $30.5 million AAV “nickel-and-diming”?? Especially for a player that has missed nearly 30% of his teams games the past 4 seasons.
Judge will be 31 next season. Even on a 7 year deal he will be a full time DH longer than an OF. At $30.5 million he would be the highest paid DH in baseball after the 2023 season by a large margin.
I highly doubt that any team is giving the injury-prone Judge a contract that carries him to his age 40 season.
Six for 200 is fair give or take a couple shekels either way , but Arte could jus say f it , 400 for u Aaron 400 for Sho , I can’t die before a World Series win , not like there isn’t a fortune to leave anyways lol
That won’t come close.
Good deal for the Yankees.
I take it back: Judge deserves more.
Hey man, how you doing? Haven’t seen you around the boards much, brother. Hope everything is going well for you.
I’m doing my best. I might show up more often. This Yankees team scares me.
They scare everyone, apparently. And with good reason, bro. They’re on a historic run, not seen since 1998*. They’re setting team records only seen by a handful of other teams since 1901! That’s….insane. And super enjoyable for us both, right?
That’s right. Judge is a very likable person.
You’re too good to me, goastros.
His next contract will be a disaster. 31 years old, 6’7, 300 lbs with an extensive injury history. Rarely has there ever been a free agent with so many red flags.
Steve Adams is mentioning somewhere that this will increase future arbitration for other players. He loves that file and trial strategy.
He actuality mentions that is the ownership’s stance as to why they just don’t meet the players demands. I was part of the conversation on that topic.
I think this has been answered before, but I’m old and I forget things.
Because of the late start to the arb hearings, am I correct in assuming that the Yankees paid Judge at last year’s rate up to this point, and now they’ll give him one huge check to make up for whatever the difference was in his season’s salary up til now?
Thanks in advance!
You are correct
You would be correct t
the shorter the contract he accepts the closer the annual avg will be to $45M per – the high $30’s isn’t gonna get it unless you give a contract that takes him to retirement age
Judges 9:9
“Next, the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and be our king.”
Love Scripture. Thanks, man!
Um . . . Silas . . . what is this scriptural quotation apropos of?
GIVE HIM THE CONTRACT DAMMIT!!!!
Still not seeing the connection.
And he married a drunk driver. Good for him.
Clown comment
@jtf aka les claypool couldn’t say it better myself, everyone f’s up once in a while doesn’t mean there scummy people. also i’m sure 90%+ of the people on this site has or will do something as stupid as drunk driving and in full disclosure i’m no exception in my teens until 25ish i did a bunch of dumb stuff.
Get this guy Max Fried’s Agent.
Judge is dumber than I thought. Easily would have got the $21M and would have notched another victory for the union.
I’d give him 3 years/$135M or 4 years/$160M buy nothing beyond that.
Judge seems like a guy everybody thinks will be a disaster if he’s signed long term but he’ll continue to put up amazing numbers right until he’s extended on a behemoth deal-
So why not go for higher AAV and less years? It’s almost less about the dollars per season and more about the number of seasons.
They took the opposite approach with guys like Aaron Hicks and took what should’ve been 1 year/$6M, could’ve turned into a 4 year/$66M free agency deal and stretched it out while getting a slight discount for the extra listing years where the player is cheap enough on average to not be a budgetary albatross- they did the same thing with DJ LeMahieu- a 4 year/$80M to 5 year/$90M deal became 6 years/$90M to give him more guaranteed playing years at a big so horrendous AAV and he still got all the money he’d wanted on a shorter deal.
I think Judge should be given the opposite treatment.
He wants $36M AAV over 8 years? Give him $45M AAV over 6 years or $50M AAV over 4 years, etc.
“ Give him $45M AAV over 6 years or $50M AAV over 4 years, etc.”
Although this is logical, I don’t see a team setting this precedent for years @ AAV for his age & injury history, EXCEPT, the Yankees ($36MM) or the Metsies (Cohen Billions).
right again Clip. I certainly hope we can keep judge , but I would not be surprised if he tested free agency and went elsewhere. Yankees are notoriously conservative in their awarding of contracts these days, and there’s always a team out there willing to go overboard.
As great as Judge is, a long-term contract of any kind could be disastrous. Even if injuries don’t affect him, which they probably will again, towards the end of any contract he will be old by baseball standards.
the Yankees aren’t the type to eat the end the bad contracts and let player go usually. We’re still suffering with the contracts of Gallo, and Hicks, because of their contracts, despite their atrocious play to date because the Yankees won’t release them
Well, Hicks was clutch last night.
Even a blind squirrel finds a nut….
Fair enough.
These are Hicksy’s stats in 21 games over the last 30 days:
.277/.365/.415/.780, 7 walks, a double, a triple, 2 HR, 2 stolen bases, 9 runs and 11 RBI.
He’s coming along.
Fair point, but he’s still…ya know, Hicks. A full season of that, I’ll buy it; right now, I’ll celebrate the small victories, and yell at the TV (who knows why?) when he doesn’t succeed. But, I’ll root for him when he’s in a position to make a difference, nonetheless.
I think it’s mainly contingent on his health. If he can stay on the field, I think he can be productive. He’s got a lot of rust to knock off after a long time away from the game. From 2017-2020 he had an .819 OPS, so there’s talent there. I also have a hunch that he needs some motivational support, and he’s getting that from this bunch of teammates. I was pleased to see him lately going all-out on fielding plays instead of letting balls drop. Let’s hope it continues.
@Trillionaire Judge isn’t going to accept less guaranteed money. Why would he? I also don’t think you can make comps with him and Hicks and DJL. Judge is a superstar. There are also luxury tax considerations and things don’t happen in a vacuum. Maybe I’m slow but I can’t ever follow your numbers and make sense of it.
8 year. $300 millikn
The Yankees have to understand that if they lose Judge, they could also lose Rizzo. AR has an opt-out after this year. Arty Moreno has enough problems trying to sign Ohtani. He won’t touch Judge.
Yeah, this is a very perceptive take, Y4L. They’re extremely tight, and although I’d like to think Rizzo more mature than to opt out from his childhood dream team because his bestie leaves, you truly never know. It could have a greater impact than we realize. They have become incredibly close in a very short time.
During ST, they asked Rizzo about Freeman. He said that’s it’s a business now and people are going to go where the money is. I think Rizzo wanted that Opt-out, just in case Judge does leave. At this point, Rizzo could finish his career in Boston, where he was drafted.
That’s true, man. I love Rizzo. Truth be told, I wanted Freeman or Olson first. But Rizzo just…fits. He’s been so good for the Yankees in so many different ways. Reflecting back, I think Freeman could’ve filled that role easily, but I’m not sure about Olson. He’s just a different personality.
Rizzo is right for NYY though. He’s perfect for the chemistry of this team. I really hope Judge and Rizzo stay. The compromise today was a good sign, imo.
How salty are Yankee fans going to be when Shrek leaves next years? No you won’t be replacing him with Ohtani either.
Cool. Now finish bagging my groceries.
Maybe he can start learning to pitch a bit too. He’s a tall guy so that should help him. So, when he starts to decline at the plate, he can transition to pitching more.
Forget about age. With judges Physique and skill im sure when he’s 35 or older he will still me mashing. Frank Thomas was doing it after age of 35. Hopefully he won’t me riddled with serious injuries but when healthy he would be able to play in a high level.
Obviously the Orioles trade Cedric Mullins away then next season Austin Hays moves to center field and they sign Judge to take over in right. No-one will survive running on Hays and Judge together
Orioles don’t have shekels to get judge
based on his injury history and production up to that point, cashman’s spring training offer was fair. judge bet on himself and it’s paid off. both sides made reasonable decisions so i hope there is no acrimony because judge should be a yankee for life
Excellent post, sir!
I love that the Yankees play in a kids ballpark and are hitting homeruns that wouldn’t go out at any other park in baseball. Gotta love it
As a hitter, taking advantage of the dimensions of your home stadium is smart.
Obviously. My point is that it should he illegal to have the short of a porch on either side of the field. It’s insane.
Pesky Pole is 302 feet. The Green Monster is 301 feet. Most stadiums have advantages and disadvantages. Go cry to mommy
So the Rays ballpark should be illegal too? Because they hit HRs there that aren’t HRs anywhere else except in their short porch…. How about in the other stadiums too, like Boston, Houston, Etc?
Just curious, my friend, if it’s anti-small park or anti-Yankees deep down.
Anti small park. I’ll announce others as I see it happen. Houston has a trash left field. I know. So does fenway. Yankees are having an amazing year. I love that Nestor and severino are murking. But i don’t like that thr Matt carpenters of the world couldn’t do it anywhere else besides Yankee stadium. He’s cooked but somehow is killing it
I respect that. I get when people don’t like the cheapies or whatever, man. It’s game-altering. I guess, growing up a diehard Yankees guy, it’s never affected me, but I can see why opposing fans of teams with larger corners can’t stand it, especially when it costs them a game/series. I’d probably feel the same way. Hell, I know I feel the same way in Boston! Lol.
Conversely, speaking of dimensions, how about AJ throwing a fit about the deeper + higher left field wall at Oriole Park (last month). When he goes to open market next year I guess it’s pretty safe to say the O’s won’t make the short list for a possible landing spot? All said, would be shocked if he’s not a Yankee lifer. But then again, money talks and….
True, Jeff. Very true. Money does talk. The guys like Ramirez are one-in-a-million.
Bigfootsfart must’ve been pro-Astrodome.
Pro-Old Yankee Stadium too, like the original, with a 450+ foot OF wall.
Really though, even the Polo Grounds had short corners.
Forbes field was huge as well.
Yea judge and Stanton hit cheap hrs
I can’t wait until everyone finds out that the Yankees have been stealing signs all year.
We can’t wait until your mommy takes away your internet.
Lol it’s embarrassing how low IQ you are
Go back to school and learn how to create a coherent sentence. I guess that’s to be expected from somebody with an IQ of 60 though
Everything I have said is coherent, Neanderthal. In fact, you saying mommy as an adult just shows your reading level. I love trolling idiot Yankees fans. You are dumb. You took the bait and got caught like a fish, clown.
That’s coherent? You are an uneducated pathetic joke.
“BigFootsFart15 mins ago
Lol it’s embarrassing how low IQ you are”
Yes. It was clearly stated that it is embarrassing that you are very low IQ. Stop getting upset because you don’t like what you read.
Me upset? lol Everyone is laughing at your stupidity. It’s so easy to make you look like an idiot.
Come on, there’s no need for any of this. We all like baseball here. You can disagree without resorting to insults.
You are right. I’ve muted BigMouthFart instead
Thanks goastros. You’re right. I’m only clowning that Homer because he attacked me over attacking his team. I’m a Met fan. So come at me, Y4L but against the Mets
I have also muted him. What a troll
Hey, if they are doing something illegal, suspend them all from baseball and strip whatever they win – I stand by that.
I appreciate your honesty.
The league wont make it public. It would hurt their brand. They make money when the yankees win.
They absolutely should because* it’s the Yankees. I think they would too. The last thing they need is another Astros-level scandal.
But if it happens, ban every single one of the cheaters and strip away titles, wins, & whatever else.
They can’t do that. All rules and penalties for players are subject to the CBA and there is nothing in the CBA about banning players for sign stealing. They can give them a maximum of a 10 game suspension.
Titles cannot be stripped either. Even when they are unearned like the Yankees titles during the steroids heyday or the Astros title. Freak flags fly forever.
All the penalties given to the Astros were the maximum allowed,
MLB has always put the onus for stopping those electronic sign stealing schemes on the teams, not the players. It took team cooperation for them to happen.
The owners agreed to increase the penalties the commissioner can give the teams for electronic sign stealing schemes like the one the Yankees used from 2015-2017, the one the Red Sox used in 2017, and the one the Astros used in 2017.
From what has been revealed, now they can be fined up to $10 million, they have also doubled the amount of draft picks a team can be docked, and managers, coaches and executives can be banned for longer terms. Still not permanent bans, just longer.
I appreciate that information Pads Fan. But, if I recall correctly, I believe the players were in fact subject to suspension, at minimum, for electronic sign stealing. I’ll have to research it some more.
Either way, I feel they should be suspended and/or banned given the scope of the Astros scandal. Fortunately, for them, I don’t make the rules. But, a $10MM fine per player would suffice too! That would send a message, eh?
Judge is an exciting player with a terrific bat and a surprising amount of athleticism. The arb settlement shows he’s smart as well…he doesn’t need the distraction, it’s plenty of money, and the Yankees would be thrilled to give him both incentive payments. The contract he ends up getting is going to be too much, and everyone knows it. It doesn’t matter who the team is, it’s going to be too much. That’s what ownership is for….to calculate what it’s worth spending for the first few years of a contract because it’s likely to end badly.
As a baseball fan I would love to see Judge finish the season with this type of offensive performance, but we all know that wont happen.
The last two weeks have been more in line with his career numbers and the last week has been 30% below his career marks. IMHO he will end up somewhere around .280/.910-.920 with a 150 OPS+ which is 50% better than league average. In other words, great.
It will be fun to find out. Last time they were this good, the Yankees faced the Padres in the WS. Rematch??
That would be cool, man. Especially with how the Padres are performing. What I’m most surprised at is how their offense is still putting up the run totals even with Manny & Tatis out – that’s pretty amazing.
Its all about pitching and defense. LOL. Yankees have best pitching staff in baseball. Padres are not far behind.
Judge will wind up with the Chicago cubs who have a history of signing adopted players and making them feel like they have a family again.
Judge has it made , 31 or not. If the Yankees don’t up the ante well in excess of $213 million another team will. The Dodgers had no issue with Freeman”s age at all.
About 4 teams will be willing to stick Judge in the lineup. , he will get a huge payday.
Everyone is going to point at the Twin’s Correa deal which I believe is an anomaly. I agree that Judge is going to get paid by a team. His gamble is working out very well so far.
Yankees suck Yankees suck. Most overrated team in sports.. they haven’t won in how many years? They finally do decent in the regular season so yankee fans think they might actually win in the playoffs. Astros will make sure they get beatdown yet again. How big is their payroll again?? And still can’t win?? Must suck being a Yankees fan
Okay. You do you fella. I like the commitment. A little heavy on the psychotropics perhaps, but, little things.
You……..feel better? Fella?
Just remember: the Cheatin’ Astros have never won a legitimate World Championship.
Not one.
BTW, the Astros were 5th in payroll last year, when they were “beatdown” by the Braves, who were 11th in payroll.
Just remember, Fink: the Astros did in fact cheat, but so did the Yankees. After all, no where in the definition of cheating does it say anything about breaking the rules or doing something illegal. To cheat is to act dishonestly or gain an unfair advantage. I can easily give you a general example of how one can cheat without breaking a rule. In other words, your message is right, but you, being a Yankees fan, are the wrong messenger.
The 2017 Astros admitted to using a camera and electronic communications to steal signs and relay them to the dugout. Their GM and manager were suspended by the Commissioner and fired by the team. Their bench coach was also suspended.
Nothing you attempt to compare to that will compare.
Own it: your team has no legitimate championships. The Yankees have 27, the first in 1923. Much as you might like to, you can’t delegitimize all those championships even if you resort to the juicing allegations that apply to your team as well. Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Berra, Mantle, et al. weren’t cheaters. They were just great players.
1. I’ve been owning it. Ask Clipper.
2. I have NEVER tried to devalue any of the success of the Yankees. I’ve NEVER tried to devalue Bucky Dent’s walk off, Jeter’s flip play (although, Giambi was safe), the M&M boys, Whitey Ford, Tony Lazzeri, Urban Shocker, etc.
3. I don’t have to compare anything. The Yankees cheated via using a dugout phone to relay the signs of an opposing team. That IS an unfair advantage and that IS cheating. “MLB said there was no violation of electronic sign stealing……..” – MLB also said there was no buzzer in 2019. I’m 100% sure you believe there was a buzzer.
4. Just like you just said to me: own it. Own the fact that the Yankees cheated. Own the fact that what the Astros did, regardless of the fact that is is worse, doesn’t excuse the Yankees cheating. It also doesn’t excuse your hypocrisy of looking the other way when it comes to the Yankees cheating. Own the fact that you, as a Yankees fan, are and will always be the wrong messenger.
I’m going to leave you to swim in your hypocrisy, denial, and saltiness, Fink Ployed. However, before I do that, I’m going to make one thing perfectly clear to you, something the likes of you could NEVER understand: that 2017 championship IS tainted and illegitmate, but that is OUR tainted, illegitimate championship.
“I have NEVER tried to devalue any of the success of the Yankees.”
Except way back when — in your previous post.
“Just remember, Fink: the Astros did in fact cheat, but so did the Yankees.”
And you call that “owning it.”
“I’m 100% sure you believe there was a buzzer.”
Explain to me why Altuve, who’d had his jersey torn off before with no embarrassment, and who posted on social media his vacation photos of himself shirtless, didn’t want his jersey torn off after a home run that won an AL championship. And please spare me the “bad tattoo” excuse, one of a series of contradictory excuses Altuve and his co-conspirators came up with.
I didn’t even mention the buzzer in my posts. Why did you? Could it be that you have your own doubts? I mean, you’re not a stupid person. When you hear nonsense like “My wife would be mad at me,” does that sound any more credible to you than it does to me?
BTW, I have no desire to keep returning to this subject. You can thank “Stone Cold” for that.
youtube.com/watch?v=-ryvOya4PoE
P.S.
Congratulations on your team’s no-hitter.
That one’s totally legit.
1. I wasn’t. The Yankees did not win the world series in 2015 or 2016. “Own it: your team has no legitimate championships. The Yankees have 27, the first in 1923. Much as you might like to, you can’t delegitimize all those championships even if you resort to the juicing allegations that apply to your team as well. Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Berra, Mantle, et al. weren’t cheaters. They were just great players. ” – What Yankees championship is there to devalue from that brief year-and-a-half period? None, because they haven’t won since 2009. Again: I have never devalued any success from the Yankees. If I did, it would’ve been way back when the scandal first began and it would’ve been the lates 90’s and 2000 championship. However, steroids is completely different.
2. Admitting the Astros cheated and that the title is tainted IS owning it.
3. I did bring up the buzzer and I did that for a reason: are you not the same guy replied to many comments, telling people that MLB cleared the Yankees of suspicions related to electronically stealing signs? If I remember correctly, you are that same guy.
4. It’s very possible Altuve did use a buzzer, but that doesn’t change my point. It also doesn’t change how that slider was so flat that even Ozzie Smith could hit it for a walk off.
5. Just because “Stone Cold” acts like a complete goof doesn’t mean you need run to this topic. You can reply to him and call him a goof witout resorting to this. It’s that simple. Of course, it’s your choice so that’s just a suggestion. If you’re tired of it, don’t bring it up.
6. You make a lot of good points, but like I said in the beginning; your message is right, but you’re the wrong messenger. Just enjoy the Yankees season. They’ve done very well. I sincerely hope we get Yankees/Astros ALCS III.
Thank you. Congrats on the Yankees success this season. I hope the Astros play the Yankees in the ALCS again. Also, to clarify, those Yankees titles from the 90’s and 2000 are legit.
Oh, I see — “any success of the Yankees” is limited to World Championships in those two years. I took you literally: i.e., ANY success of the Yankees.
For the record, I posted on here more than once that Randy Levine was an idiot to fight the release of the letter about the Yankees’ use of TV monitors to read opponents’ signs. I wanted the information to be made public. By fighting the release of the letter, all Levine succeeded in doing was to draw attention to the situation and invite people’s imaginations to run wild about what actually happened.
The only way the Yankees were able to possibly convey pitch information to their batters was to signal to a runner on second base, who could then try to pass it on to the batter. Obviously, this was impossible with no runner on base. Here’s the text of Manfred’s letter:
nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/04/yank…
As for my reply to Stone Cold, I brought up the cheating in response to this: “Yankees suck Yankees suck. Most overrated team in sports.. they haven’t won in how many years?”
That invites a comparison of team championships.
I misunderstood what you were saying. In that case, comparing the championships is valid. This is whole thing on me. Sorry about that. I hope you have a good evening.
No, man — don’t do that to yourself. It’s not on you. I don’t blame you for being irked by my reply to Stone Cold. I’ll be honest, I was conscious of sounding like “a typical Yankee fan” resorting to the championships comparison. It’s really on me for taking the bait of a troll.
I hope you have a great evening. I also hope the Yanks can pull out a split of this series tomorrow — but you knew that. ; )
Fink: Goastros is an A+ guy, man. He’s a great commenter, super level-headed, and honestly, every time I bash the Astros for cheating, I hope he doesn’t see it, because it’s *only* brought out now for the Stone Cold’s of the world.
But he is a Yankees fan (awesome) that somehow got trapped in an Astros’ fan’s body – lol. Seriously, *The best* Astros fan you’ll find and one of the most logical, reasonable people on here.
I have taken that same bait as you’ll read above, and that bothers me only because people like Goastros see that response. Ugh, why do we let a dude with a wrestling logo do that? Haha!
Stone Cold is a silly hater. Just ignore him.
i’m gonna throw my 2 cents in here, from the dawn of sports there has been cheating, but as it relates to bb you have the sox’s in 19 and throwing the ws, the steroid era was all of bb not just nyy, and today we have teams cheating with tech. the only thing that upsets me with the stros cheating is they were such a good team in 17 that they could of won without cheating, but hey i get it you fell into desperation and wanted that one chip that alluded you for 50+ years, but imo at this point let’s all let it go yes the stros got caught red handed but i’m sure they weren’t the only ones trying to use tech to get an advantage. i’ll leave with this in the next 10+ years i’m sure we’re gonna see a cheating scandal that is so bad it’s gonna make the roid era or trash cans look like child’s play.
I love Judge… I’d give him 300 mil for 7 years… a higher annual. Opt out after 4. Cash has done wonders this year. Only mistake was not going 2-3 years with Verlander. He beats us all the time. If I was Cash I would throw the farm and get Otahni at deadline. It’s a long long shot. But he will never win in LA
This, from NJ.com:
‘That’s apparently what Judge was willing to take all along, but he seems miffed that the Yankees waited last minute to propose a middle-ground settlement.
‘“You wonder when you’re going through it why, but I didn’t ask,” Judge said Friday night after the Yankees’ 3-1 loss to the Astros. “I didn’t feel the need. It’s a business. They’ve got the things they’re doing on their side running numbers and stuff like that. We’re doing the same thing. I’m just thankful to get past it, get it done and go back to focusing on winning some games here.”’
My prediction: this is Judge’s last season in pinstripes. My intuition at this early stage is that he’ll be a San Francisco Giant next year.
Hal appears to care more about winning a salary arbitration conflict with the star of the franchise than winning baseball games. The inheritor of what George built from an $8.5M investment seems to have little, if any, respect for the prestige of the New York Yankees, something his father, for all his faults, deeply appreciated.
Well said, Fink. I hate to say it, but I think you’re right. I have Giants or Mets right now. Hal will never match or beat their offers or the one that Judge will accept. This team’s success reinforces Hal’s sentiment they don’t need to spend over-the-top to win. I believe he undervalues what guys like Judge bring to the clubhouse in addition to his elite performance, which make him worth retaining (to a point, of course).
Well, either way, it’ll be very public what the Yanks offer him. I believe Judge settled in his arb for another reason. He looks more accommodating now and holds firm later, buying some favor with fans. Yankees hold firm now & later, they look like the bad guys. Just my two cents, maybe that thinking too deeply.
If Judge ends up in Queens, Hal had better steer clear of Yankee Stadium, because any intimation that he’s in the building will meet with a deluge of boos from the fans.
It also occurs to me that the insulting manner in which they conducted this arbitration business might’ve been calculated to piss off Judge, insuring that he’ll look elsewhere in free agency, thus sparing Hal the necessity of paying to extend his contract.
I wonder what George would think of the job Hal has done.
@goastros123 imo gs would think hal is doing a horrible job only because gs would give the gm a blank check and tell him to sign whoever you can that will win us a ws. the only problem is teams are no longer just taking bad contracts with only the cash to offset the contract now they want the cash and a top prospect/s, and you can only do that move so many times until your out of top prospects. imo i think hal has done a nice job of balancing winning and staying out of cap hell, also the fact they rebuilt there farm to respectable levels without having to tank.
Hal would be grounded…again. And George would remarry for the sole purpose of having another heir, just to transfer the Yankees ownership to that offspring.
Fink: I see the logic in what you’re saying, but I certainly hope that’s not their strategy. Yikes.
as much as i would love to judge retire a nyy, imo you might be better off not re-signing judge. trust me i know how it feels losing a superstar that you grew (i watched puljos leave after 11 and was pretty upset) with him going on 31 and has had multiple soft tissue injuries during his nyy tenure. i would feel better about signing a power hitting of if most of his injuries were freak injuries i.e. broken hand because of a pitch, or a tendon tearing, imo nyy needs to reinvest the money that they were going to give judge into areas of weakness or keep some cash in reserve for a mid season trade next year. again i understand it’ll sting for a while losing judge but the sting will hurt a lot less in 3 or 4 years when your still competing for alcs/ws’s than having 2 older superstars (maybe 3 if cole falls off a cliff which i hope not when i can watch him pitch he is fun to watch) and now your handcuffed like laa.
I don’t think Judge will be a Yankee after this year, and the reason is that Hal Steinbrenner doesn’t want to pay to keep him.
The differences between Pujols leaving St. Louis and Judge leaving the Yankees are, first, that Albert’s final season with the Cardinals was still great (148 OPS+), but it was the worst of his career.
So far, 2022 is the best of Judge’s career.
Second, Albert had suffered from plantar fasciitis on and off since 2004 but played through it. His wrist was broken in June of his last year with the Cardinals.
Judge has been injury-free (knock wood) since 2020, and he’s playing center field capably.
Third, the Cardinals without Albert still had a strong core of hitters and the means to add to it after he left. They were back in the World Series two years later.
When I picture this team without Judge, there’s huge hole in the lineup, and in the outfield, defensively. Who’s going to pick up the slack — strikeout kings like Gallo (who’s probably gone next year anyway) or Stanton? Rizzo’s great, but he can’t carry a team, and he has an opt-out after this year that he might exercise if Judge bolts. There’s nobody on this squad that begins to make up for Judge’s absence.
What’s more, Hal Steinbrenner seems not to care about winning. He knows the fans will pay for the overpriced tickets no matter what, and the luxury suites will be filled by the corporate customers entertaining clients, etc. The franchise will be profitable, win or lose.
If winning were the object, no player is more indispensable to his team than Judge is to the Yankees. I just don’t think Hal cares.
@fink i agree with most of your points like who are you gonna get to replace judge, that’s a very valid point and he’s not easily replaced, i only made the comparison to al until we traded for nolan we never replaced al’s bat in the lineup. on your point of judge is having a career year that is what scares me wrong side of 30 having his best season and has a history of il visits dating back to his early days. imo i think judge is over valuing himself (still heck of a player i’d love him on my team just not for any length of time beyond 4 years 5 at the most) i feel that nyy made more than a fair offer to judge and this offseason we’re gonna see where his priorities lie, does he want to win or have the title of the highest paid player. now i could be completely wrong on this but other than the mets i don’t see any competitive team giving him over 5 years (they will pay him but only in cash not length) but there is always one owner every year that will hand out a stupid contract just to get a star to fill the seats. long and short yes judge needs to be a nyy and if they give him a mega deal the end might look bad but if look at it in this prospective if you signed him for 8+ @300+ the last few years will be an “overpay” but i would look at as backpay for the production he gave you when he was making pennies. my only concern is if you resign judge to a mega deal and he falls of a cliff soon after what do you do then.
side note by no means i wish or hope judge falls off a cliff i was only using it as an example
If you want to win, you got to pay those that are worth the money. You can’t field a championship team based on nothing but solid budget-saving guys. Those kind of players compliments your stars like Judge.
@goast trust me i know i watch my birds do it every year, tbh it’s a very fine line players like judge are the kind that are the guys that help you get that chip, but also can set you back for years as well.
BTW, it’s also occurred to me that this 2022 team could very well be a mirage. The unexpectedly great rotation is going to come up against innings limitations on several pitchers, and then what? You can bash your way to a postseason berth to an extent, but if the pitching is gassed when they get to the playoffs, the prognosis won’t be good.