Judge makes Soto pitch ... to ownership
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Aaron Judge has Hal Steinbrenner’s ear on all things Yankees-related, and the captain recently delivered this message to the club’s managing general partner: We need to re-sign Juan Soto.
Judge said that he met with Steinbrenner in Tampa, Fla., about a week after the World Series to discuss “a lot of things” that would strengthen the 2025 roster, including Soto, who is now a free agent. Judge said that he has not spoken with Soto since the Fall Classic.
“I think the best thing is to really give those guys space,” Judge said in a conference call on Friday to discuss his selection as the American League’s Most Valuable Player. “I talked to him all season. He knows how we feel about him.
“I think the most important thing is now letting him do his thing with his family -- pray about it, talk with people and come to the right decision for him and his family. So I haven’t talked to him at all.”
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The combination of Soto and Judge in the Yankees’ lineup lived up to expectations, with the dynamic duo combining for 99 home runs and 253 RBIs during the regular season. Judge compared Soto’s impact to the top of the Dodgers’ lineup, where Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman all hit in order.
“Having a chance to have Juan hitting in front of me, I get to see a lot of pitches,” Judge said. “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. 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.”
Judge is the Yankees’ highest-paid player, earning $40 million annually through 2031. Soto is likely to surpass that mark with his next deal, with such deep-pocketed clubs as the Blue Jays, Dodgers, Mets, Phillies and Red Sox reportedly interested in bidding.
Should Soto wrap his winter drawing the Yankees’ highest salary, Judge said he would have no issue.
“Honestly, it ain’t my money,” Judge said. “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. …
“Giancarlo Stanton was a guy that set that example. He never really cared, even though he signed a mega contract back in Miami. Once he came here, he didn’t care about being the highest-paid guy. He just wanted good players around him.”
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The Yankees met with Soto and agent Scott Boras earlier this week in Newport Beach, Calif. -- a session attended by Steinbrenner, team president Randy Levine, general manager Brian Cashman, manager Aaron Boone and senior adviser Omar Minaya. Speaking at the Owners Meetings earlier this week in Manhattan, Steinbrenner called it a “good meeting” and said that he expects to be “in the mix” for Soto.
Steinbrenner said that if Soto re-signs, he would enjoy the same direct pipeline to ownership that Judge and right-hander Gerrit Cole have had in recent seasons.
Judge said that, for him, that relationship blossomed after they negotiated directly during his free agency following the 2022 season. During the season, Judge said he and Steinbrenner typically spoke at least once during each homestand, discussing players as well as coaches and potential upgrades to the team’s facilities.
“He really kind of opened it up to me, if I had any input, if I had any feelings about things,” Judge said. “Because he’s not down in the clubhouse, he’s not down on the field every single day.
“So I think just having that relationship to where I can communicate with him about what I’m seeing, what I’m feeling, what I see with the guys, what I see against other guys that we play against -- you know, I love it. I think it’s a cool part. The more communication you have from top to bottom, it makes everybody better.”