What now for Judge, Yankees?

Aaron Judge set an American League record with 62 home runs this season. He also was booed off the field by a surly crowd at Yankee Stadium when he ended Game 4 of the ALCS with a tapper back to the mound.

Will that be his final act in pinstripes before joining the Dodgers or Giants as a free agent?

Judge said throughout the season that his goal was to remain with the Yankees. But after an MVP-caliber season, he went 5 for 36 with three RBIs in nine postseason games and heard it from a fan base growing increasingly frustrated with what is now a 13-year drought without a title.

There is a notion Judge can call his shot financially, and that’s true to a degree. But he turns 31 in April, and that could lead to a shorter-term deal at a higher average annual value than a 10year contract that pays at a lower rate over time.

The Yankees opened with an offer of $213.5 million over seven years before the season. Judge’s big season could bump that up to $245 million or beyond.

Even with Judge, the Yankees were 46-48 after July 1. But Hal Steinbrenner has said Aaron Boone will be back as manager. The same apparently is true for GM Brian Cashman.

Temperamentally, Boone is a great fit for the Yankees. But Game 3 of the ALCS was not his best moment. With

Gerrit Cole at 96 pitches in the sixth inning, Boone lifted his ace with the bases loaded in favor of Lou Trivino. Trey Mancini hit a sacrifice fly and Christian Vázquez a two-run single.

Trivino pitched well this season. But with the Yankees down, 2-0, the game was on the line. Two higher-leverage relievers, Clay Holmes and Jonathan Loaisiga, were available but weren’t warmed up.

Meanwhile, first baseman Anthony Rizzo has the right to opt out of his deal and rapidly declining third baseman Josh Donaldson is under contract for another season at a $23 million payroll hit. He turns 37 in December.

The Yankees also desperately need Anthony Volpe to be their version of Jeremy Peña at shortstop, and he hit .236 with a .718 OPS in 22 games at Triple A to end the season.

Extra bases

Hitting coach Jeff Albert was going to be offered a new contract by the Cardinals and declined. President of baseball operations John Mozeliak said Albert’s decision was driven in part by criticism from outside the organization, including on social media. Social media? Most everybody in the public eye has learned to ignore the trolls. The Cardinals were fourth in the National League in runs and third in OPS. Why would Albert care what somebody on Twitter thinks? . . . Bob Melvin is an excellent manager. But how did Josh Hader pitch only once for the Padres in five NLCS games and not at all in the last three? With Bryce Harper coming up second in the eighth inning of Game 5, Hader needed to be in that game instead of Robert Suarez. Instead, Harper hit that memorable two-run homer and the Padres were sent home. Postseason games have to be managed more aggressively . . . Phillies reliever Dave Robertson and his family now live full-time in Rhode Island. He turns 38 in April but plans to keep pitching. “I had a lot going on this season,” he said. “We had a newborn in the spring. I was traded. I caught COVID and lost a lot of energy. I feel like next season will be a lot easier and I’ll be more prepared.” Robertson had a 2.40 ERA over 58 games despite all his issues. He has had conversations with the Red Sox in recent years but they’ve never made a firm offer . . . Mancini likes hitting in Fenway Park. But not for the reason most righthanded hitters do. “There’s a lot of room in center field there, and in ballparks like that, I tend not to try and do too much,” he said. “I keep it simple and look for doubles in the gap.” Mancini will be a free agent after the World Series . . . The Reds will induct Bronson Arroyo into their team Hall of Fame next season. Perhaps Wily Mo Peña will be a guest speaker . . . David Stearns stepped down as Brewers president of baseball operations, and Matt Arnold will take over. Stearns said he will remain in Milwaukee in an advisory role. But how long will it take for Steve Cohen to lure him to the Mets? . . . Phillies second baseman Jean Segura played 1,328 games before reaching the playoffs. It was the longest streak for an active player . . . Adam Wainwright will return to the Cardinals for his age-41 season on a one-year, $17.5 million deal. “Long story short: Yes, this’ll be the last one,” he said. “Just everybody relax, don’t freak out about it.” The righthander has 195 victories, third in team history . . . Want to get to the World Series? Hire Kevin Gregg as your media relations director. The Red Sox named him to that position before the 2013 season. Gregg spent nine years in a demanding job, then took the same position with the Phillies. They also won the pennant in his first year. Clearly Gregg needs to get a raise . . . The 21st edition of The Tradition is set for Dec. 7 at TD Garden. Johnny Damon will be among the honorees. For tickets and more information, contact Rachel Locke at rlocke@sportsmuseum.org or by calling (617) 480-4257 . . . Happy birthday to Marco Scutaro, who is 47. The middle infielder hit .284 for the Red Sox in 263 games from 2010-11 before being traded to the Rockies. He was 2 for 4 in the fateful final game of the 2011 season. Scutaro also caused me to miss a flight in 2007 when he belted a threerun walkoff homer with two outs and an 0-and-2 count against Mariano Rivera while playing for Oakland. Dave

Valle is 62. The longtime Seattle catcher signed with the Red Sox before the

1994 season. He lasted 30 games before being traded for Tom Brunansky for his second stint with the Sox.