An article was published on NJ.com speculating that the San Francisco Giants could be a serious player for Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge.
“This looked, sounded and felt like the end of an era, especially when Judge ended one encounter with a veteran reporter by saying, ‘I’ll see you somewhere down the road.'”
“The Giants have targeted Judge and are prepared to spend whatever it takes, a person with knowledge of the Giants’ thinking told NJ Advance Media after meeting with members of the franchise’s ownership group. The person, who isn’t authorized to speak on behalf of the team, was granted anonymity.
“Judge is at the top of the Giants list and they won’t be underbid,” the person said. “If they miss out, it won’t be because of money.”
The person added that the Giants planned to entice Judge further by signing at least two-high priced free agents.
“The Giants are not going to stop with Judge,” the person said. “They have so much money freed up.”
Would it happen? Would Judge actually leave New York and the Yankees for the Bay area? He is from that part of the country, and was a Giants fan when he was growing up. It would make sense from that standpoint. New York is not for everyone. That said, Judge has publicly stated he wants to be a Yankee.
Then there is Steve Cohen and the Mets, who could be waiting in the weeds. The Mets are not afraid anymore to spend big money, and they could try to lure Judge to Queens in addition to bringing back Jacob deGrom, Edwin Diaz, and Brandon Nimmo.
Sports Illustrated’s Jennifer Piacenti has the Yankees as the favorites to retain Judge this off-season at -500, with the Giants not too far behind at +425. The Mets are at +1400 according to her methodology.
Whatever happens, it is going to be a wild off-season ahead for the Yankees and Major League Baseball. Judge is going to be one of a handful of players who are going to rock the market one way or the other.
