The New York Yankees need to be considering life after Aaron Judge if he elects to sign with the San Francisco Giants. The Giants have reportedly made him an offer in the neighborhood of $360 million, well above the eight-year, $300 million deal the Yankees had on the table for his services last week.
If general manager Brian Cashman needs to pivot, the team’s strategy could change instantly. The Bombers would need two starting outfielders and could even make a run at one of the top shortstops in the market.
- Yankees’ super-utility man is seeing his numbers plummet back down to Earth
- Yankees’ $98 million slugger in the middle of another ice-cold stretch
- Yankees could see this interesting pitching prospect get an MLB promotion
The Yankees are already building out contingency plans if Aaron Judge leaves:
In fact, the Yankees have been in touch with Carlos Correa, Xander Bogaerts, and even Dansby Swanson as potential shortstop targets if Judge falls through. They are also in on starting pitcher Carlos Rodon, who is seeking close to $30 million per season over a 5–6 year contract. Given his longevity issues, the Yankees would need to supplement his workload down the stretch, but he has elite stuff and would instantly make the Yankees’ rotation one of the best in the game.
“Both the Yankees and Giants have been in contact with star pitcher Carlos Rodon, star shortstop Carlos Correa and a bevy of other outstanding free agents. Presumably, many of them will have to wait.”
Per Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
Landing Correa seems like a long shot given his market value projects and eight-year, $254 million deal, which would pay him $31.7 million per season.
That is close to the deal the Yankees offered Judge before the 2022 season began, before he set multiple MLB records. Nonetheless, Correa is 28 years old, two years younger than Judge, coming off a season where he hit .291 with a 36.6% on-base rate, 22 homers, and 64 RBIs.
It is well known that Correa is one of the best offensive players in the game and features elite defense at a premium position. Acquiring the most recent Twin would open up the Yankees’ flexibility to trade Oswald Peraza for an outfielder, potentially Pirates OF Bryan Reynolds, who requested a trade last week.
Seemingly, Judge leaving in free agency opens up an unlimited number of doors the Yankees can walk through, but none are able to supplement his loss entirely. The obvious preference would be to retain the superstar slugger for the next 8–9 years, building a powerhouse team around him and his world-class talents.