Aaron Judge can sign with whichever team he wants, but one Major League Baseball executive has cast doubt on one popular destination.
Aaron Judge’s future is still very interesting
Analysts believe that New York is the safest bet for Judge’s team in 2023. However, the four-time All-Star has visited his hometown Giants, fueling speculation that Judge will sign with them — the MVP grew up in Linden, Calif., just two hours away from San Francisco.
The services of the American League MVP will not be cheap. Judge turned down a seven-year, $213.5 million extension before the 2022 season in April, and the Yankees reportedly offered him an eight-year, $300 million deal.
The New York Post’s Jon Heyman spoke with one league executive to forecast Judge’s future while predicting where the top free agents will sign.
On Thursday, the MLB executive informed Heyman: “He’s going to leave the greatest market to go across country to a team where it’s hard to hit homers? Come on,”
It’s not a bad reason to oppose Judge signing with the Giants. The slugger broke Roger Maris’ American League home run record this season and its possible Judge won’t be able to match that in the Bay Area, though all-time home run leader Barry Bonds could be used as a counterargument.
MLB free agency has been slow to begin, but things are expected to heat up once the winter meetings begin this Sunday in San Diego.
