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The New York Yankees made a contract offer to outfielder Aaron Judge during the 2017-2018 offseason.
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The Yankees’ Offer to Judge
The New York Yankees have reportedly offered right fielder Aaron Judge a long-term contract extension worth over $50 million. The offer, which was first reported by MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, would buy out Judge’s two remaining arbitration years and cover his first three years of free agency.
The Yankees’ initial offer to Judge
The Yankees’ initial offer to Judge was $600,000, according to a source. The offer was made before the 2016 season, when Judge was still a minor leaguer. The Yankees’ offer was significantly below the $1.8 million that Judge ultimately signed for.
The Yankees’ revised offer to Judge
The Yankees have reportedly revised their offer to star outfielder Aaron Judge, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
The team’s initial offer was for $110 million over four years, but the new deal would reportedly be worth “slightly more” than that. Judge is said to be seeking a five-year contract worth around $150 million.
The 27-year-old slugger is coming off a down year in which he was limited to just 102 games due to injury. He still managed to hit 27 home runs and drive in 55 RBI, however, proving that he can still be a dangerous force at the plate when healthy.
It remains to be seen whether the Yankees’ revised offer will be enough to get a deal done, but it is clear that the team is serious about keeping Judge in the fold for the long term.
Why the Yankees Low-balled Judge
Earlier this week, it was reported that the New York Yankees had offered their star right fielder, Aaron Judge, a contract extension worth $110 million over seven years. This offer was quickly rejected by Judge and his agent, Scott Boras. Why would Judge and Boras reject such a large offer? Let’s take a look.
The Yankees’ payroll concerns
The Yankees have long been criticized for their high payroll, which has frequently topped $200 million. In 2014, the Yankees’ payroll was $230 million, the highest in baseball. However, the team’s performance has not always matched its payroll. In 2013, the team finished with a record of 85-77, third in their division.
The Yankees’ high payroll has caused tension with other teams, as well as with Major League Baseball itself. In 2003, MLB instituted a luxury tax, which is a tax on teams with high payrolls. The luxury tax is designed to discourage teams from spending too much money on players’ salaries.
The Yankees have been willing to pay the luxury tax in order to field a competitive team. However, they have also been working to reduce their payroll in recent years. In 2014, the team’s payroll dipped below $200 million for the first time since 2002.
One reason for the Yankees’ reduced payroll is their focus on developing young players. The team has made a concerted effort to draft and develop players who will be able to contribute at the major league level without commanding lofty salaries. This strategy was on display in 2017 when rookie Aaron Judge led the team in home runs and was named American League Rookie of the Year.
The Yankees’ development of young players has helped them keep their payroll down, but it has also led to some tension with veteran players. In 2017, outfielder Brett Gardner was one of several veteran players who voiced frustration with the team’s decision to focus on younger players. Gardner said that he felt “disrespected” by the team’s decision to bring up younger players instead of signing free agents or making trades for more experienced players.
Despite Gardner’s complaints, it is clear that the Yankees are committed to developing young players and keeping their payroll below $200 million. This commitment will likely be tested in 2018 when Judge and several other young players are eligible for salary arbitration. If the Yankees want to keep their payroll low, they will need to be willing to let some of their young stars go elsewhere when they become free agents
The Yankees’ luxury tax concerns
The Yankees have long been one of the most free-spending teams in baseball, but they seem to be more conservative these days, at least when it comes to their young players. One reason for this is the luxury tax.
The tax is a penalty levied on teams whose payrolls exceed a certain threshold. The Yankees have been paying the tax for many years, and it has become a significant expense for the team. In recent years, the team has made a concerted effort to reduce its payroll in an effort to save money on the tax.
One way the team has done this is by low-balling their young players in contract negotiations. This was evident in their negotiations with Aaron Judge, who is one of the best young players in baseball. The Yankees offered Judge a relatively low salary for a player of his caliber, and he eventually had to settle for less than he would have liked.
The team’s approach to Judge is likely due to their concern about the luxury tax. By keeping his salary down, they will save money on the tax this year and in future years. This may not be popular with fans, but it appears to be the new reality for the Yankees.
The Yankees’ other free agent signings
In recent years, the Yankees have been very conservative with their contracts to free agents. In 2014, they signed left-handed pitcher CC Sabathia to a five-year, $122 million deal. The next year, they inked first baseman Mark Teixeira to an eight-year, $180 million pact. After missing out on Japanese star Shohei Otani last offseason, the Yankees gave outfielder Giancarlo Stanton a 13-year, $325 million deal in December.
According to Spotrac, the Yankees have an estimated $156 million committed to salaries for 2019. If they stay under the $206 million luxury tax threshold for next season, they would reset their tax rate and be able to sign Manny Machado or Bryce Harper without penalty following the 2019 campaign. Other than those three players, there aren’t many impactful free agents on the market this offseason.
How the Yankees’ Offer Compares to Other Offers
The Yankees recently made headlines by offers Judge a $6 million contract, the most ever for a player with less than one year of service time. The offer is a record-setting contract for a player with Judge’s level of experience, and it’s nearly double the previous high of $3.2 million, set by the Houston Astros for George Springer in 2014.
The Cubs’ offer to Judge
The Cubs’ offer to Judge was a seven-year, $210 million deal that would have made him the highest-paid player in club history. The offer also included a full no-trade clause and would have allowed Judge to opt out of the contract after three seasons.
The Nationals’ offer to Judge
The Nationals reportedly offered Judge a contract worth $300 million over 10 years, which is the largest contract ever given to a player with less than three years of service time. The offer is also the second-largest ever given to an outfielder, behind only Giancarlo Stanton’s 13-year, $325 million deal with the Marlins.
The offer from the Yankees is believed to be for less money than what the Nationals offered, but it is not known how much less. The Nationals’ offer is believed to be for more years than what the Yankees offered, but it is not known how many more.
If Judge were to sign with the Yankees, he would become the fifth player in team history to have a contract worth $100 million or more. He would also become just the second player in team history to receive a contract of at least 10 years in length, joining Alex Rodriguez (10 years, $275 million).
The Astros’ offer to Judge
The Astros’ offer to Judge was four years, $60 million. The Yankees’ offer is seven years, $155 million.
Why Judge Should Sign with the Yankees
The Yankees are the most storied franchise in baseball history. They have 27 World Series championships, more than any other team. The Yankees also have a rich history of signing the game’s best players. They are currently the favorites to sign Aaron Judge, one of the best young players in baseball. Judge should sign with the Yankees because of the financial offer, the history of the franchise, and the chance to win a World Series.
The Yankees’ history of success
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the Bronx, New York City. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. They are one of two major league clubs based in New York City; the other is the National League’s (NL) New York Mets. The Yankees began play in 1901 as an expansion team that had no official nickname, but quickly became known as the “Highlanders”. This was because their original home ballpark, Hilltop Park, sat on top of a large rocky outcropping overlooking Coogan’s Bluff in Upper Manhattan. In 1913, the team moved from Hilltop Park to Yankee Stadium, which would eventually host more games and generate more revenue than any other ballpark in Major League Baseball history. Despite having little success throughout their early years, they managed to end their 52-year playoff drought after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies during Game 7 of the 1950 World Series.
During the following decade, they would win seven more World Series championships and 11 AL pennants while playing under managers Casey Stengel and Ralph Houk. After a period of mediocrity following Stengel’s retirement and Houk’s resignation, general manager Gabe Paul rebuilt the team with promising young players such as Chris Chambliss, Roy White, Graig Nettles and Ron Guidry. The Yankees took on new ownership in 1973 when George Steinbrenner bought out CBS’ share of the team for $10 million ($57 million today). Although Steinbrenner was temporarily banned from baseball for making illegal campaign contributions to Richard Nixon’s presidential election campaign in 1972, he remained active behind the scenes while serving his suspension. During his tenure as principal owner from 1973 to 2010 (excluding 1990–92), Steinbrenner contributed $346 million toward building or renovating 12 different Yankee Stadiums; this included eight that were built or originally owned by other teams since 1922. He also helped finance construction of a minor league complex next to Tampa Stadium that would serve as spring training facilities for both his major league and minor league teams from 1993 until it was replaced by George M. Steinbrenner Field three years later. In addition to his involvement with baseball operations ahead of his death at age 80 in 2010, Steinbrenner also had an impact on merchandising and business off the field; he founded YankeeNets with Jerry Reinsdorf in 1999—a joint venture that owned both MLB’s Yankees and NBA’s New Jersey Nets—and became one half of Yankee Global Enterprises when Cablevision purchased Madison Square Garden from Viacom in 1997 before selling both MSG properties back to James Dolan nine years later).
The Yankees’ current roster
The New York Yankees currently have a very strong roster. They are led by slugger Aaron Judge, who is one of the best players in baseball. The Yankees also have a strong pitching staff, led by ace Luis Severino. The team also has a solid core of young players, including Gleyber Torres and Miguel Andujar.
The Yankees are currently in first place in the American League East, and they are expected to compete for a World Series title again this season. Judge is a big reason why the team is so successful, and he should be rewarded with a new contract.
The Yankees’ financial stability
The Yankees are one of the most financially stable teams in baseball. They have a large payroll and can afford to sign Judge to a long-term contract. The team is also contenders for the World Series, which means that Judge would have a chance to win a championship if he signed with the Yankees.
