While various suitors are lining up to see if they can pry Aaron Judge away from the New York Yankees, the superstar slugger has an offer on the table from the team he’s spent his entire career with until now.
Judge has hit the free agency market following this past record-breaking season with the Yankees, who would certainly welcome him back with open arms, though fans are certainly concerned about their chances of landing Judge. Since then, a bunch of teams entered the Judge sweepstakes with the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers emerging as possibilities.
If the Yankees are going to lose Judge, however, they’re not going down without a fight. According to ESPN’s Jess Passan, the Bronx Bombers have an initial offer on the table for eight years and “in the neighborhood” of $300 million.
The Yankees' offer to Aaron Judge will start at around $300 million 💰@jeffpassan has more on what could become a bidding war for Judge (@espnplus) 🔗 https://t.co/V9eYob3pwG pic.twitter.com/0sJjgnigoc
— ESPN (@espn) November 30, 2022
Eight years and $300 million would give Judge an Average Annual Value of $37.5 million, which would break the current record held by Mike Trout. There’s little doubt that Judge will own that record after he signs his next contract, but it’s just a question of whether or not New York’s offer remains the best one.
We’ll see if the Yankees are able to beat out the Giants, Dodgers, and others to retain Aaron Judge. But in the meantime, the MLB world had some interesting thoughts about the contract offer.
I don't think this gets the job done. This may just be the opening bid, but if it's the final offer, I think we can prepare to see Judge in a Giants uniform next year. https://t.co/eqxgUyyzhk
— Philip Klein (@philipaklein) November 30, 2022
https://twitter.com/EvanRomano/status/1597986666303496196
My jaw would lock up, if I said anything other than “Ok”. https://t.co/eAwA7X13O0
— FOST (@GeorgeFoster72) November 30, 2022
It feels like an offer of eight years at 300 million with room to increase is a pretty significant sign the Yankees are putting their money where their mouth is with Aaron Judge.
— Randy Wilkins (@pamsson) November 30, 2022
As per Jeff Passan, the #Yankees have an 8-year 300mil initial offer on the table to Aaron Judge. That comes out to 37.5 AAV.
Have to imagine Judge holds out for something closer to or north of 40 AAV. Still expecting the Yankees to retain their MVP OF. #MLB
— MLB Marathon (@MLBMarathon) November 30, 2022
Judge made himself at least $76.5 million in guaranteed money by betting on himself. https://t.co/vOwpx2UJTY
— Anthony Riccobono (@Tony_Riccobono) November 30, 2022
Breaking: the Yankees have an offer on the table that wasn’t enough to get Aaron Judge to re-sign yet so it’s not a story
— Gary Sheffield Jr. (@GarysheffieldJr) November 30, 2022
