>
Aaron Judge has reportedly reached a deal with the New York Yankees to stay in the Bronx.
He has agreed to a nine-year, $360 million contract to stay, according to reports.
Judge had a blockbuster in 2022 with the Yankees, smashing an American League record 62 home runs and eclipsing the long-standing record held by Roger Maris.
But when his terms expired, Judge took time to consider his future, and the San Francisco Giants were hoping to tempt Judge back to California, where he grew up.
Now, the news that he’s staying on the East Coast will be a big boost for the Yankees.
Aaron Judge will stay with the Yankees after agreeing to a nine-year, $360 million contract.
Judge had a landmark season in 2022 for the Bronx Bombers, hitting a record 62 home runs.
But Judge was in the final year of his contract with the Yankees and a free agent when the season ended.
On Tuesday night alone, manager Aaron Boone admitted it was ‘stressful’ to wait to hear what the 30-year-old would decide.
Boone added that the Yankees were holding fire on other plans for next season until they found out if they had Judge.
Judge was photographed in California during Thanksgiving and was filmed in San Francisco, and was asked why he was there.
“Just visiting family and friends,” Judge said, though he is believed to have held talks with the Giants while in California.
Judge turned down a seven-year, $213 million offer from the Yankees before the start of last season, but he always suggested he hoped to stay in New York.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone (right) said it was ‘stressful’ to wait for the judge’s decision
Judge pictured with his wife Samantha Bracksieck at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers game on Monday
“I think both sides want to come to an agreement,” Judge said in March. I know the numbers of both files, but that doesn’t mean the communication stops.
“Hopefully, we can continue to communicate and find a number that works for both of us. I want to play here, I want to finish my career here. There is no better place to play.
On Tuesday, Judge told TIME he was frustrated that the Yankees leaked details of their $213 million offer, quotes that some took as a negative sign for his future with the Yankees.
“We said, ‘Hey, let’s just leave this between us,'” Judge said.
‘I was a little upset because the numbers came out. I understand that it is a negotiation tactic. press me. Turn the fans against me, turn the media against me. I didn’t like that part.
But Judge is now ready to continue cementing his position as one of the all-time greats to play for the Yankees.
The 30-year-old spoke to Tom Brady on his Let’s Go! podcast shortly after hitting home run 62 and said he was honored to see his name among the best to play baseball.
‘Roger Maris, Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, the list goes on and on. You see them around Yankee Stadium with their World Series rings, they are Yankee legends and baseball greats,” Judge told Brady.
‘How could I be mentioned with those guys? I’m just starting my career, a couple of years ago, what are they talking about? It’s always humbling to be in the same sentence, to be mentioned as one of those greats.
But like you say, it’s hard to get used to. I wake up every day and try to help the Yankees win a ballgame, I never see myself up there with Babe Ruth or Roger Maris, but it’s something I never take for granted.
‘At Yankee Stadium we have a little sign that says “just do your job.”
‘I could have been 0-4 the night before, I could have been 4-4 the night before, take a walk, whatever. Well guess what? That ended. Now when you get into this field, you have to do your job. That to me is what builds champion teams.’
Judge saw Brady in action for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night as they defeated the New Orleans Saints 17-16.
Brady joked on his podcast that he would try to get Judge to give up baseball for football.
“I was wondering what it would take for you to be in Tampa and be a tight end for us next year,” Brady said. ‘It looks pretty good to me: the way it runs, the size, the grip radius, the power!’
But it will be baseball, and specifically the New York Yankees, where Judge will spend the next nine years of his career.