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The New York Yankees have reportedly offered Aaron Judge a contract extension worth around $50 million.
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The Yankees’ Offer to Judge
The New York Yankees have reportedly made an offer to star outfielder Aaron Judge. The offer is said to be worth $80 million over nine years, with an opt-out clause after five years. This would be a massive deal for the Yankees, and it would solidify their outfield for years to come.
The Yankees’ reported offer to Judge
According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Yankees have made a “monster” offer to free agent outfielder Aaron Judge.
The offer is for nine years and $135 million, Olney reports. It would buy out three years of Judge’s free agency, and includes a fourth-year option that could make the total value of the contract worth $155 million.
The Yankees’ offer is significantly higher than the reported seven-year, $100 million offer from the San Francisco Giants.
The Yankees’ reported interest in Judge
The Yankees have been reported to have offered Judge a contract extension.
Why the Yankees Offered Judge
The Yankees made an offer to Judge that was $80 million less than what the Cubs offered. The Yankees’ offer was for less money and fewer years. The Yankees’ offer was also for less money per year.
The Yankees’ need for a right-handed power bat
The Yankees have been linked to Judge since the beginning of the offseason. They were reportedly one of the teams interested in him at the trade deadline last year, but the Braves ultimately won the bidding war. The Yankees have been rumored to be one of the frontrunners for his services this offseason, and they finally made an offer on Wednesday night.
Judge is a right-handed power bat that the Yankees are desperately seeking. They have been linked to a number of free agent outfielders this offseason, but most of them are left-handed hitters. Judge would give the Yankees a much-needed right-handed power bat to go along with lefties Brett Gardner and Giancarlo Stanton.
The Yankees’ offer to Judge is believed to be in the range of $80 million to $85 million over five years, according to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi. That would be a significant commitment for a player who has only played in parts of two major league seasons, but the Yankees are clearly desperate for a right-handed power bat.
The Yankees’ interest in Judge
The Yankees have been one of the most active teams this offseason, making a number of significant trades and free agent signings. One player they’ve been linked to in trade rumors is Baltimore Orioles star Manny Machado. However, another player who has been the subject of trade rumors is New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge.
Judge is coming off a down year in which he batted .278/.392/.548 with 27 home runs and 67 RBIs in 126 games. He also struck out a league-leading 223 times. Despite his struggles, Judge is still one of the most talented young players in baseball and has massive upside.
The Yankees are reportedly interested in trading for Orioles star Manny Machado, but they’re also reportedly willing to listen to offers for Judge. It’s unclear what the Yankees would want in return for Judge, but it’s safe to assume they would want a haul of young, controllable players and/or prospects.
Given Judge’s immense talent and potential, it would be surprising if the Yankees were able to trade him for anything less than a significant return.
What the Yankees Would Have to Give Up
The New York Yankees have discussed the possibility of acquiring All-Star outfielder Giancarlo Stanton from the Miami Marlins, but they would have to give up a lot to get him. Here’s a look at what the Yankees would have to give up to get Stanton.
The Yankees’ young outfielders
The Yankees have a plethora of young outfielders that they could potentially offer up in a trade for Judge. Clint Frazier, Dustin Fowler, and Aaron Hicks are all Major League ready and could be used in a package deal for the slugger. All three players are under team control for several years and would give the Yankees cost certainty moving forward.
The Yankees’ top prospects
The Yankees’ top prospects, according to Baseball America, are right-hander Chance Adams (No. 2), left-hander Justus Sheffield (No. 3), outfielder Estevan Florial (No. 5), left-hander Jorge Guzman (No. 6) and third baseman Miguel Andujar (No. 7).
The Yankees have also been linked to Cubs prospects in any potential trade for Judge, with top shortstop prospect Gleyber Torres rumored to be involved in discussions.
The Yankees’ Chances of Signing Judge
The New York Yankees are one of the most successful teams in Major League Baseball. They have won 27 World Series titles, more than any other team in the league. The Yankees are also known for their high payroll, which allows them to sign the best players in the league. The team’s most recent offer to Aaron Judge was for nine years and $265 million.
The Yankees’ ability to sign Judge
The Yankees reportedly made an offer to Judge that would have made him the highest-paid player in team history, but the outfielder turned it down. The Yankees are said to be unwilling to go over $300 million for Judge, while the outfielder is reportedly seeking a deal worth more than $400 million.
The Yankees’ other options
As the New York Yankees sort through their outfield options, they have to decide if they want to sign Aaron Judge or pursue other options.
The Yankees have been linked to free agent outfielders Bryce Harper and Andrew McCutchen, and they have also been mentioned as a possible trade destination for Pittsburgh Pirates star outfielder Starling Marte.
Judge is a homegrown talent, and the Yankees have been loath to let homegrown talents leave in recent years. However, the team has also shown a willingness to spend big money on free agents, as they did last offseason when they signed left fielder Giancarlo Stanton to a record-setting contract.
Judge is arbitration-eligible this offseason and is due for a significant raise from his $684,000 salary from 2018. The Yankees have other options in the outfield, so they may be willing to let Judge go if he demands too much money.
