New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman revealed on Friday that Aaron Judge turned down an extension in the ballpark of $213 million across seven years, which would've paid him around $30.5 million per season. The slugger made it clear he wanted to sign a new deal well before Opening Day or else he'd test the waters in Free Agency in the winter.
Following the Yankees' 6-5 extra-innings win over the Boston Red Sox, Judge spoke out on where he's at in terms of his future with the franchise.
“Very few people get this opportunity to talk extension. Me getting this opportunity is something special and I appreciate the Yankees wanting to do that. But I don’t mind going into free agency. It is what it is.
“At the end of this year, I’ll talk to 30 teams. The Yankees will be one of those teams.”
Judge said in the offseason he'd ideally like to be a Yankee for life and he reiterated that on Friday:
Judge: “I’m just disappointed because I’ve been vocal that I want to be a Yankee for life.”
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) April 8, 2022
The $30.5 million annually would make him the highest-paid position player in Yankees history. But, Judge clearly believes he can prove once again this season that he's worth every single penny and more. That being said, it's also a risk given his injury history across the last few seasons.
The outfielder had a solid day at the plate on Friday, going 2 for 5 with a double. The Yankees won't want to lose him, but if they manage to make a deep playoff run in 2022 and he plays a big part, it won't be surprising to see Cashman and the front office give him another hefty offer. After all, he's arguably the face of the Bronx Bombers and one of the most exciting power hitters in the big leagues.
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