New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge is reaching a whole new level of offensive performance in 2022.
In 125 games, he has a .294/.396/.661 line with 50 home runs, 102 runs scored, 110 RBI, 14 stolen bases, and a league-leading 195 wRC+ (100 is considered average).
He still has more than a month to reach some milestones.
First of all, he is just three home runs shy of posting a personal best, eclipsing the 52 he hit in his rookie season in 2017.
The biggest goal may be Roger Maris‘ 61 home runs: that’s the highest franchise output over a single season.
With a hot September, it’s well within reach for the outstanding Judge.
His decision to reject a seven-year, $213.5 million contract before the season seems to be paying off.
With what the Yankees offered Judge in arbitration, he would have made $230.5 million from 2022 to 2029.
Now, he is slated for a much, much higher payday.
“The Yankees offered Aaron Judge $240M, he declined, and then proceeded to hit 50 bombs before September. His contract starts with a 3 and if you don’t like it, be honest and say you’re afraid of the big contract. What a player,” Gary Sheffield Jr. tweeted.
The Yankees offered Aaron Judge $240M, he declined, and then proceeded to hit 50 bombs before September.
His contract starts with a 3 and if you don’t like it, be honest and say you’re afraid of the big contract. What a player.
— Gary Sheffield Jr. (@GarysheffieldJr) August 30, 2022
Judge Will Be A Very Rich Man
Judge is already 30, so a contract worth more than $400 million or even $350 million is probably out of the question.
It’s very possible, however, that he ends up signing a pact that indeed starts with a 3.
The Yankees are in a very dangerous position: if they don’t want to pay that, the Los Angeles Dodgers and, especially, the New York Mets might.
For all parties’ sake, the Bombers need to make sure Judge is a Yankee for life.
He is a future captain, and even his floor is rather high.
He is also athletic and should age well.
Re-signing Judge is a must for the Yankees.
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