New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, who was named the unanimous American League MVP on Thursday, spoke candidly to reporters during a conference call on Friday about the ongoing efforts to improve the team’s roster. Among the top priorities for the Yankees this offseason is pursuing superstar outfielder Juan Soto, the most sought-after free agent on the market.
Despite the club’s high hopes for securing Soto with a long-term contract, Judge revealed that he has been giving Soto plenty of space during the process.
While Judge hasn’t spoken directly with Soto since the Yankees’ disappointing World Series loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, he has certainly been busy behind the scenes, using his influence as the Yankees’ captain to communicate with the team’s leadership.
Judge made it clear that he has been in discussions with Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner about Soto and several other potential moves aimed at strengthening the roster.
“Yeah, we’ve been in talks,” Judge said when asked about his involvement in offseason planning. “I went down to Tampa for about a week right after the season. I met with him [Steinbrenner], and we just discussed a lot of things, from Juan to other guys that are kind of out there that could definitely help this team. I kind of just gave him my input on a couple of things.”
Judge’s involvement in these discussions speaks to his growing role within the Yankees organization, not just as their star player but as a leader actively invested in the team’s future. He has made no secret of his desire to see Soto return to the Bronx and emphasized the impact that Soto had on the Yankees’ lineup during their 2024 campaign.
“I think having the chance to have Juan hit in front of me… I get to see a lot of pitches,” Judge noted. “He’s going to be a tough at-bat in front of me. He’s going to wear down the pitcher right there in the first inning, within the first 15 pitches or so. Yeah, I think that was a big impact, having a guy like that in front of you. If I could have eight Juan Sotos in the lineup with me, I’d love that.”
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Judge’s admiration for Soto was evident, and for good reason. The presence of Soto in front of Judge in the batting order was a key factor in Judge producing one of the most prolific power-hitting seasons by a right-handed batter in baseball history.
Soto, for his part, also enjoyed a career-best year, as the duo put up numbers not seen by a Yankees pairing since the legendary Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. Together, Judge and Soto helped lead the Yankees to a 104-win season and a deep playoff run, ultimately falling just short in the World Series against the Dodgers.
Now, as Soto enters free agency at age 26, he is expected to command a record-setting contract in the range of $600-700 million. Represented by Scott Boras, Soto is in a prime position to secure a massive payday, one that could potentially make him the highest-paid player in baseball history.
Judge, who signed a nine-year, $360 million deal with the Yankees in December 2022, made it clear that he has no qualms about Soto potentially earning even more than him.
“It ain’t my money,” Judge said with a smile. “I really don’t care, as long as we get the best players, we get the most that we can. I’m happy with whatever. That’s never been something on my mind about who gets paid the most. It’s just, whatever we can do to get the best players, I’ll take it.”
Judge’s focus on winning, rather than contract figures, speaks to his desire to see the Yankees succeed at the highest level. For Judge, the priority is putting together a championship-caliber roster, and he recognizes that adding Soto to the mix would be a game-changing move for the team.
While Judge has been vocal about his desire for Soto to stay in pinstripes, the Yankees face stiff competition for the Dominican slugger’s services.
Soto has already met with the Yankees, but he has also fielded meetings with several other interested teams, including the New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Philadelphia Phillies.
Each of these teams is prepared to make a significant offer, which means the Yankees will need to be aggressive if they hope to retain Soto’s services.
For now, Aaron Judge is doing everything in his power to help convince Hal Steinbrenner and the Yankees’ front office to make the moves necessary to bring Soto back to New York. With Judge’s influence, the Yankees hope to not only secure Soto on a long-term deal but also to continue building a roster capable of competing for championships for years to come.
As the Yankees look to bounce back from their World Series defeat, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Securing a player of Juan Soto’s caliber would be a major statement to the rest of the league and a huge step toward the ultimate goal — bringing another World Series title back to the Bronx.
And if Aaron Judge has his way, the Yankees will do just that, with Soto right by his side.
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