The 2022-23 MLB offseason was full of deals that were relatively close to happening but didn’t end up materializing.
The Boston Red Sox were close to locking up Xander Bogaerts before he signed with the San Diego Padres.
Carlos Correa was about to sign a couple of $300+ million deals, first with the San Francisco Giants and then with the New York Mets, before issues with his ankle scared both teams away.
According to insider Jon Heyman, the Giants were also very close to reaching an agreement with New York Yankees star Aaron Judge (or shall we say Arson Judge?) but the Bombers tacked on a ninth year and secured their man.
Had the Giants signed Judge, we would have been presented a fascinating hypothetical scenario.
How would Yankees fans have greeted Judge in that first game of the season between the two teams?
“The Yankees host the Giants to start the 2023 season. Hypothetically, if the Giants DID sign Aaron Judge this offseason, how do you think Yankees fans would’ve treated him on Opening Day?” The Game Day MLB tweeted, posting the question to their followers.
The Yankees host the Giants to start the 2023 season 👀
Hypothetically, if the Giants DID sign Aaron Judge this offseason, how do you think Yankees fans would've treated him on Opening Day? pic.twitter.com/ArhifyHDDt
— The Game Day MLB (@TheGameDayMLB) March 6, 2023
While Yankees fans did boo Judge at some points in his career (unbelievable, we know), most of them would have probably understood that he signed elsewhere if the money and years were both superior to the Yanks’ offer.
That would have been the case in both San Francisco and San Diego, as the Padres reportedly got close to $400 million (he ended up signing at $360 million).
While there are always a few fans that don’t understand baseball is a business, the vast majority would have applauded him for everything he has done for the Yankees.
The guy hit 62 home runs for them with a .311 batting average last season: he certainly doesn’t deserve any boos.
NEXT: Carlos Rodon Had A Rough Spring Debut
