Superstar slugging outfielder Aaron Judge is expected to sign a contract soon.
And apparently, he may already has a nine-year offer in his hands.
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Here’s what MLB Network’s Jon Morosi said on the subject:
“I still believe there’s a chance Aaron Judge signs this week ... from what I can tell, piecing things together here, Aaron Judge’s market is certainly above $300 million now, and potentially from two different teams, the Yankees and Giants. It appears to me, and this is not yet confirmed, but there are those in the industry that believe that he already has in hand that nine-year offer we’ve been talking about for a while. That is market is already over that line of $300 million-plus and five years.”
ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported last week that the New York Yankees presented Judge with a deal that is around eight years for $300 million. That averages out to $37.5 million per year, which would make Judge the highest-paid position player based on average annual value. But maybe Judge will get even more.
MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reported Monday that “While the Yankees and Giants are certainly the two most prominent teams in the Aaron Judge sweepstakes, sources say other teams remain on the periphery. No prominent mystery team has emerged, but it would not be surprising to see that happen during the Winter Meetings.”
SNY’s Andy Martino reported Sunday that Judge’s future could be decided this week at the Winter Meetings. Via SNY:
“There’s not really that much else to do. Judge has obviously had these in-depth conversations with Hal Steinbrenner. I’m told those meetings went really well. Hal had the chance to convey to Judge how important he was, and how he was going to continue to build a winning team around him. But I also heard that the meeting that Judge had with the Giants went really well. So although there are going to be other teams perhaps on the periphery, those are the two main teams that appear poised to offer Judge that super-mega-deal that he clearly has earned and is looking for. So what’s left but for Judge to decide? A little bit of upping offers, a little bit of last call, make sure no one else wants to jump in at the last minute. But there’s really not a lot left to happen here, which is why people around the game here in San Diego think that that one is coming to a head. Perhaps not as soon as Verlander, but soon.”
Judge rejected a seven-year, $213.5 million contract before Opening Day and became a free agent after the Houston Astros won the World Series. The 30-year-old was named the 2022 American League MVP after setting a new American League record with 62 home runs and contending for the Triple Crown.
As NJ Advance Media’s Randy Miller first reported last month, the Giants are all-in on Judge, a Bay Area native.
“Judge is at the top of the Giants list and they won’t be underbid,” the person said. “If they miss out, it won’t be because of money.”
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Judge made a free-agent visit to the Giants before Thanksgiving. San Francisco was the first team, other than the Yankees, to sit down with Judge, who hit the open market after the World Series.
Bridget Hyland may be reached at bhyland@njadvancemedia.com.
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