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The New York Yankees clinched a dramatic 6-5 extra innings win over the Boston Red Sox on Opening Day, but they also came away from the day with a notable dilemma regarding Aaron Judge’s future with the team.
Judge and the Yankees failed to come to terms on a contract extension deal by opening day, which was the set deadline imposed by the outfielder for such discussions. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman revealed on Friday that the team placed a seven-year, $213.5 million offer on the table coupled with $17 million for the 2022 season. In the end, the three-time All-Star opted against agreeing to the proposed deal.
Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton knows very well about the headaches that can arise during extension talks with a team. For now, he simply wants Judge’s mindset to be centered on the 2022 campaign.
“I wouldn't say it's disappointing until he's not there,” Stanton said after the win over the Red Sox. “There's plenty of time. I think it's a little overexaggerated that it didn't get done right now. But we'll push it to the side. He's got work to do. And we've got to focus.”
Judge reportedly “asked for almost exactly $100 million more” than what the Yankees had settled on offering him. Only five players in MLB history have signed off on $330 million-plus deals, including Fernando Tatis Jr., who put pen to paper on a hefty 14-year, $340 million contract with the San Diego Padres last year.
Judge is now set to hit free agency at the end of the season, where he looks forward to once again opening up contract talks with the Yankees.
“At the end of the year, I'm a free agent — will talk to 30 teams, and the Yankees will be one of those 30 teams,” Judge said on Friday. “It's always nice to try to wrap something up sooner, the better. But we weren't able to get it done and it's on to baseball.”
The expectations for Judge sure have been upped for the 2022 campaign, as millions could be on the line pending his overall production over the course of this season.
