As the New York Yankees were set to take the field against the Boston Red Sox in their opening game of the 2022 MLB season, Aaron Judge didn’t sign an extension with the team before his own imposed deadline.
He had stated many times that he wanted to sign a long-term deal with the Yankees before the start of the season, as he didn’t want negotiations to distract him during the campaign.
General manager Brian Cashman confirmed that there was an offer today, but it came short to what the slugger considers he is worth.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan detailed the package the Yanks offered to their star right fielder: “Official from Yankees GM Brian Cashman: No long-term deal for Aaron Judge. Said Yankees offered a seven-year, $213.5 million extension, which, paired with the $17 million they’ve offered in arbitration this season, would have made the entire package just over $230 million,” he tweeted.
That would have made him the highest-paid position player in Yankees history per average annual value (AAV), at $28.75 million.
Judge Thinks He Could Get More Money In The Open Market
Judge is determined to get more (perhaps around $30 million per year, or more), and he could very well get it in free agency.
He is playing his final season of arbitration eligibility, and is set to enter the market afterwards.
Per Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Yankees “will again try to sign Aaron Judge in the off-season when he becomes a free agent.”
Cashman says the #Yankees will again try to sign Aaron Judge in the off-season when he becomes a free agent
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) April 8, 2022
The Yankees really should have extended Judge years ago: he is their franchise player, and letting him test the market (where teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets could be preparing to offer him close to $35 million per season) is a mistake they could eventually regret.
He remains a favorite to stay in the Bronx, eventually, but this is a less-than-ideal situation for the Yankees.
NEXT: Yankees GM Comments On Failed Aaron Judge Talks