Judge staying with Yankees
Aaron Judge has issued his ruling: Court remains in session in the Bronx.
Judge is staying with the Yankees on a nine-year, $360 million contract, according to reports Wednesday.
It’s baseball’s biggest free agent deal ever.
Judge, who hit an American League-record 62 homers last season, will earn $40 million per year, the highest average annual payout for a position player.
The contract trails only Mike Trout’s $426.5 million deal with the Angels and Mookie Betts’ $365 million pact with the Dodgers for biggest in baseball history. Trout and Betts were already under contract when they signed those deals.
The Yankees made a long-term offer to Judge before last season that was worth $213.5 million over seven years from 2023-29. But the outfielder turned it down in the hours before opening day in April.
The 6-foot-7 Judge bet on himself — and won.
Judge surpassed Roger Maris’ AL home run mark while powering the Yankees to an AL East title. He also tied for the major league lead with 131 RBIs and just missed a Triple Crown with a .311 batting average.
Judge became the first AL MVP for the Yankees since Alex Rodriguez in 2007.
By rejecting the Yankees’ preseason offer, Judge, 30, gained $146.5 million and an extra two guaranteed seasons.
The Northern California native also visited with the Giants last month.
Judge was selected by the Yankees in the first round of the 2013 amateur draft and made his big league debut in 2016.
A year later, he was one of baseball’s breakout stars and won the AL rookie of the year award. The fourtime All-Star has 220 homers and 497 RBIs in seven big league seasons.
Red Sox go big: Veteran closer Kenley Jansen and the Red Sox have agreed to a two-year, $32 million deal, according to reports.
The 35-year-old Jansen went 5-2 with a 3.38 ERA in 64 innings for the Braves last season. The three-time All-Star led the NL with 41 saves, helping the Braves win the NL East title.
Jansen spent his first 12 seasons with the Dodgers, winning a World Series title in 2020. His 391 career saves are the second-most among active players (behind Craig Kimbrel’s 394) and eighth all time.
Also, the Red Sox and outfielder Masataka Yoshida agreed to a fiveyear, $90 million contract, ESPN reported.
Yoshida, 29, locked in a deal with the Red Sox on the first day he was eligible to sign after the Orix Buffaloes, the reigning Japan Series champion, posted him.
A corner outfielder, Yoshida hit .335/.447/.561 with 21 home runs, 80 walks and just 41 strikeouts in 508 plate appearances this year.
Contreras to Cards: Catcher Willson Contreras and the Cardinals agreed to a five-year, $87.5 million contract, according to reports.
The 30-year-old threetime All-Star will replace retired future Hall of Fame catcher Yadier Molina. The Cubs will receive a compensatory draft pick because they gave Contreras a qualifying offer.