12/7/2022
The New York Yankees have made an unprecedented financial commitment to ensure reigning American League MVP Aaron Judge will finish his career in pinstripes. The free agent outfielder, who hit a AL-record 62 home runs last season has agreed to re-sign with the Yankees for a nine-year deal worth $360 million, according to a baseball official with direct knowledge of the contract.
Judge’s $360 million contract is the largest by a free agent in baseball history, topping Francisco Lindor’s $341 million deal with the New York Mets.
He will earn $40 million per season, the highest average annual payout for a position player.
The Yankees won what was essentially a two-team competition for Judge’s services, with the San Francisco Giants also in the running. In the end, Yankees GM Brian Cashman was able to get the deal done.
Judge, 30, bet on himself last offseason, rejecting a deal worth $213.5 million over seven years from 2023-29. But he turned it down before opening day in April.
He then proceeded to have one of the greatest contract-year performances in history — hitting .311 with 133 runs scored and 131 RBI — and breaking Roger Maris’ AL home run record that had stood for 61 years.
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