The way the free-agent market for Aaron Judge is developing, it appears increasingly likely the winning bid will be for nine guaranteed years, sources involved in the negotiations say.
A nine-year deal for Judge, who turns 31 on April 26, would take him through his Age 39 season. The Yankees might need to decide if they are comfortable offering that long a contract to retain their star outfielder. Judge, in turn, might face a decision about whether he wants to leave the Yankees for one extra guaranteed year.
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No matter how the negotiations end, Judge will land far beyond the Yankees’ initial seven-year, $213.5 million extension offer at the end of spring training, an average of $30.5 million per season. After setting a single-season, American League record with 62 home runs, Judge could end up with two additional years and an average salary surpassing Mike Trout’s record $35.5 million for position players.
The Yankees, according to ESPN, offered Judge an eight-year deal in the $300 million range. Teams when trying to close deals often add an extra year to their offers for top free agents. The Rangers, major-league sources said, went to five years and $185 million to reach an agreement Friday with pitcher Jacob deGrom, trumping a reported three-year, $120 million offer from the Mets.
The $37 million average annual value for deGrom currently stands as the second highest in major-league history, trailing only Max Scherzer’s $43.3 million. A nine-year contract at that average would be worth $333 million, though it’s possible Judge could accept a lower AAV in a deal of that length, the way Bryce Harper and Mookie Betts did in their most recent contracts.
Even at $36 million per year, Judge would break Trout’s AAV record for position players. A nine-year deal at that average would match the free-agent contract pitcher Gerrit Cole signed with the Yankees three years ago.
The Giants are known to be pursuing Judge, hosting him for a visit shortly before Thanksgiving. The Dodgers are believed to want Judge only on a short-term, high-dollar deal. The market for Judge also includes other clubs, sources say. The identity of those teams, and the extent to which they are in the mix, is not known.
(Photo: Jeff Hanisch / USA Today Sports)
