Although plenty of attention has gone to the class of free-agent shortstops this offseason, Aaron Judge easily was considered the best player on the open market.
After failing to come to terms with the New York Yankees on a contract extension by Opening Day of the 2022 season, Judge shut down negotiations and put together a historic year.
Throughout much of free agency and into the Winter Meetings, the general sense was Judge would re-sign with the Yankees or join his hometown San Francisco Giants. Other clubs had reported interest, including the Los Angeles Dodgers, but the Judge sweepstakes largely remained a two-team race.
A conclusion arrived early Wednesday morning when Judge agreed to a nine-year, $360 million contract with the Ronald Blum and Jay Cohen of the Associated Press:
Judge is staying with the New York Yankees on a $360 million, nine-year contract, according to a person familiar with baseball’s biggest free agent deal ever.
Reports of Judge re-signing with the Yankees came one day after some believed he was on the verge of agreeing to terms with the Giants. San Francisco was thought to have presented a $360 million offer to Judge as well.
Meanwhile, the San Diego Padres reportedly entered the picture late by extending Judge a contract offer of $400 million over 10 years. The Padres also were spurned by Trea Turner despite again making a more lucrative offer than his contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Although Mookie Betts shared a willingness to play second base and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman always keeping an opportunistic mindset, there weren’t signs of the Dodgers ever being a serious factor for Judge during free agency.
It’s presumed the Dodgers may have preferred a shorter-term contract at a higher average annual value.
Where Aaron Judge contract ranks in MLB history
Judge’s $360 million contract is the third-richest in MLB history. It trails Mike Trout’s $426.5 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels, and Betts’ $365 million deal with the Dodgers.
One difference, however, was Trout and Betts were both under contract at the time of signing their new pacts.
Judge’s $40 million AAV is the largest for a position player in MLB history.
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