MLB insider warns Aaron Judge over perils of new contract

Saturday October 1, 2022

Like much of the current regular season, Aaron Judge is likely to dominate the offseason too. His free agency is drawing near, as his contract with the Yankees ends with the season. Fans expect a much bigger new contract for the slugger. But MLB insider and renowned baseball columnist Jeff Passan differs and warns that the next contract won’t have everything the player wants.

According to the sports reporter, Aaron Judge may not get a new contract that can fulfill all his expectations. He cites the reason that hitters usually have a limitation that impacts their contracts.

According to Jeff Passan:

Via First Take:

“In baseball contracts like the one Aaron Judge is about to get, generally speaking they don’t turn out very well, especially for hitters …. The reality is, whoever brings in Aaron Judge, whether its the New York Yankees, the New York Mets, the Chicago Cubs, the San Francisco Giants, wherever he winds up signing, the first five years of that deal are what they are really going to be looking for him to produce in. There’s an understanding in baseball, especially with sluggers, especially with bigger guys, that they tend historically not to age particularly well.”

The New York Yankees recently won the American League East division title and will soon begin their run in the postseason. However, their star player will be a free agent after that.

Before Opening Day, the power-hitting outfielder turned down a seven-year, $213.5 million contract and has stated that he will investigate his other options during the offseason.

There has been a lot of speculation about where Judge will land.

The following is what Yankees president Randy Levine said on The Brian Kilmeade Show on FOX News Radio about keeping Judge in the Bronx:

“We’re going to try our very, very best to sign him. We think the world of him. We think he’s a great player. We think he’s a great Yankee. And you know, that’s something that will happen in the off-season. … We’re going to put our best foot forward and try and keep him. We know his worth to the franchise. We know his worth to the Yankees. He’s been carrying us and doing it with great poise and dignity. And we’ll see what happens in the off-season. It won’t be for a lack of trying.”

But the Giants are reportedly trying to sign Aaron Judge, and the Bay Area native may want to return home.

Do you agree with the columnist? Will Aaron Judge sign a contract that falls short of his expectations?