Fans and baseball pundits expect MLB home run leader Aaron Judge to agree to a deal with the Yankees and sign a new contract to stay in New York. And this is going to be the most likely scenario, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
The home-run machine will be a free agent at season’s end. Rival executives expect him to stay with the New York Yankees.
“Most” in baseball believe the New York franchise will resign the four-time All-Star.
“They have to keep him, don’t they?” Heyman said citing an unnamed general manager.
New York drafted Judge in the first round in 2013. In his first full season, he hit 52 home runs and won AL Rookie of the Year.
The 30-year-old Californian had a great season. In 127 appearances, he has hit .296/.399/.664 with 51 homers and 15 steals. Currently, no other player boasts more than 36 homers in baseball in a single season.
Judge and the Yankees agreed to a $19 million, one-year contract in June to avoid arbitration. This came after talks over a seven-year, $230-million deal broke down. The slugger said long-term talks are over.Â
“That’s for when the season’s done,” Judge said when asked by reporters about his future talks with the Yankees.
It is possible that the modern-day Yankees will forever be changed by his decision to test the waters of free agency.
In the 1990s and early 2000s, the New York Yankees, owned by George Steinbrenner, were determined to win as many World Series championships as possible.
During the course of the last decade, however, the Los Angeles Dodgers and, more recently, the New York Mets have emerged as the teams with the greater financial clout in Major League Baseball.
Because Judge has put himself in a position to receive a record-breaking contract, the Yankees will likely have to increase their offer if they want to beat out their competitors who are spending more on their bids and others.
Even though the Yankees rank third with a $252.2 million payroll this season, it’s reasonable to think they are capable to keep Judge no matter the price he asks for. However, limits do exist.
If the likely AL Most Valuable Player leaves his team during the offseason, there will be enormous pressure on the team management to make other moves during the offseason in order to maintain the club’s status as a title contender both next season and beyond.
However, remaining with the Yankees appears to be the most likely outcome for Judge to pursue at this time.
What do you think? Will Aaron Judge stay with the Yankees or leave? Which team will be the best for him?
