Ex-Yankees star Alex Rodriguez: Aaron Judge taught a ‘masterclass’ on negotiation

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge, right, hugs teammates after hitting a solo home run, his 62nd of the season, during the first inning in the second baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. With the home run, Judge set the AL record for home runs in a season, passing Roger Maris.

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge, left, watches his solo home, his 62nd of the season, with Texas Rangers catcher Sam Huff during the first inning in the second baseball game of a doubleheader in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. With the home run, Judge set the AL record for home runs in a season, passing Roger Maris.

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge heads to the dugout after hitting a solo home run, his 62nd of the season, during the first inning in the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. With the home run, Judge set the AL record for home runs in a season, passing Roger Maris.

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge connects for a solo home run, his 62nd of the season, off of Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jesus Tinoco (63) as Texas Rangers catcher Sam Huff and umpire Randy Rosenberg look on in the first inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. With the home run, Judge set the AL record for home runs in a season, passing Roger Maris.

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge follows through on a solo home run, his 62nd of the season, as Texas Rangers catcher Sam Huff, left, and umpire Randy Rosenberg, rear, look on in the first inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. With the home run, Judge set the AL record for home runs in a season, passing Roger Maris.

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge, left, hits a solo home, his 62nd of the season, in front of Texas Rangers catcher Sam Huff and home plate umpire Chris Segal during the first inning in the second baseball game of a doubleheader in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. With the home run, Judge set the AL record for home runs in a season, passing Roger Maris.

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge, left, hits a solo home, his 62nd of the season, in front of Texas Rangers catcher Sam Huff and home plate umpire Chris Segal during the first inning in the second baseball game of a doubleheader in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. With the home run, Judge set the AL record for home runs in a season, passing Roger Maris.

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge watches his a solo home run, his 62nd of the season, off of Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jesus Tinoco (63) as catcher Sam Huff and umpire Randy Rosenberg look on in the first inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. With the home run, Judge set the AL record for home runs in a season, passing Roger Maris.

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge watches his a solo home run, his 62nd of the season, off of Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jesus Tinoco (63) as catcher Sam Huff and umpire Randy Rosenberg look on in the first inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. With the home run, Judge set the AL record for home runs in a season, passing Roger Maris.

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge rounds the bases past Texas Rangers first baseman Nathaniel Lowe (30), umpire Lew Williams and first base coach Travis Chapman after hitting hit a solo home run, his 62nd of the season, in the first inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. With the home run, Judge set the AL record for home runs in a season, passing Roger Maris.

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run, his 62nd of the season, in the first inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. With the home run, Judge set the AL record for home runs in a season, passing Roger Maris.

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge rounds second on his way home after hitting a solo home run, his 62nd of the season, off of Texas Rangers starter Jesus Tinoco (63) in the first inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. With the home run, Judge set the AL record for home runs in a season, passing Roger Maris.

The New York Yankees' Aaron Judge rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run, his 62nd of the season, Tuesday against the Texas Rangers.

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge runs out his solo home, his 62nd of the season, in front of Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (6) during the first inning in the second baseball game in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. With the home run, Judge set the AL record for home runs in a season, passing Roger Maris.

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge gestures as he rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run, his 62nd of the season, during the first inning in the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. With the home run, Judge set the AL record for home runs in a season, passing Roger Maris.

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge runs out his solo home run, his 62nd of the season, as Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jesus Tinoco looks on in the background during the first inning in the second baseball game in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. With the home run, Judge set the AL record for home runs in a season, passing Roger Maris.

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge (99) approaches home plate as teammates come out to congratulate him after hitting a solo home run, his 62nd of the season, in the first inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. With the home run, Judge set the AL record for home runs in a season, passing Roger Maris. Umpire Randy Rosenberg and Rangers catcher Sam Huff also stand by watching the play.

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge (99) approaches home plate as teammates come out to congratulate him after hitting a solo home run, his 62nd of the season, in the first inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. With the home run, Judge set the AL record for home runs in a season, passing Roger Maris. Umpire Randy Rosenberg and Rangers catcher Sam Huff also stand by watching the play.

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge, is greeted at the dugout by teammates and cheering fans after hitting a solo home run, his 62nd of the season, in the first inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. With the home run, Judge set the AL record for home runs in a season, passing Roger Maris. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge smiles in the dugout after hitting a solo home run, his 62nd of the season, during the first inning in the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. With the home run, Judge set the AL record for home runs in a season, passing Roger Maris.

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge smiles in the dugout after hitting a solo home run, his 62nd of the season, during the first inning in the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. With the home run, Judge set the AL record for home runs in a season, passing Roger Maris.

Fans reach for a foul ball by New York Yankees' Aaron Judge during the second inning in the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022.

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge stands in the dugout after his solo home run during the first inning in the second baseball game of the team's doubleheader against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. With the home run, Judge set the AL record for home runs in a season at 62, passing Roger Maris.

New York Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson (28) talks with right fielder Aaron Judge (99) as he leaves the game in the second inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022.

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge (99) enter the dugout as he leaves the game in the second inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. Rangers field coordinator/third base coach Corey Ragsdale (64) stands by.

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge, center, sits in the dugout with teammates and staff watching play against the Texas Rangers during the eighth inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022.

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Aaron Judge bet on himself this year, and boy did it pay off.

The New York Yankees re-signed the superstar slugger to a nine-year, $360 million contract. The deal came after threats from both the San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres to pluck the outfielder out of New York and bring him over to their teams.

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To get to this monster deal, Judge took a risk. The American League MVP, who rejected a seven-year, $213.5 million contract made by the Yankees before Opening Day, then had a walk season for the ages, setting a new league record with 62 home runs while contending for the Triple Crown.

Former Yankees star Alex Rodriguez went on SportsCenter to talk about Judge’s tactics and path toward this contract. Per an ESPN press release:

“I just think Aaron Judge really taught a masterclass on how to go about your last year, how to negotiate, how to keep everything nice and tight ... When you zoom out, I think you have to look at this a little more analytically. We have learned nothing about Aaron Judge over the last 12 months, at least the fans of New York. I mean, he is top-shelf character, great talent, Madison Avenue worthy. And at the end of the day, if Brian Cashman and that front office would have handled Aaron Judge like the Atlanta Braves, could have signed him 3 or 4 years ago for $100 million, and then take that delta of $260 million, and bring in complementary players around Aaron Judge to help the Yankees land a title.”

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In 2007, Rodriguez signed his own extension with the Yankees - a 10-year deal for $275 million.

MORE MLB:

- Yankees’ 4 priorities after Aaron Judge | Carlos Rodon, Josh Donaldson, more

- Mets steal Yankees pitching prospect in Rule 5 Draft

- Yankees’ Aaron Judge re-signs | 4 takeaways from Brian Cashman

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Bridget Hyland may be reached at bhyland@njadvancemedia.com.

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