Boone: Slugger wants title above all
If how much Aaron Judge will earn in 2022 is based on his production in the first half of this season, the negotiation would probably begin and end with “How much do you want?’’
Alas, Judge’s torrid pace through the first 69 games this season cannot be used as evidence to support his financial well-being. On Friday, a three-person arbitration panel debates and decides whether Judge gets $21 million for this season or if Judge is paid $17 million.
The Yankees and Judge prior to this season could not come to an agreement on a long-term contract, with general manager Brian Cashman saying the offer from the team was a sevenyear extension worth $213.5 million. The per-year average of $30.5 million would have been the highest ever for a Yankees player.
Judge rejected that offer, betting on himself, and the results thus far have been staggering. He went into
Thursday night’s game with the Astros leading all of baseball with 27 home runs and was hitting .302 with 52 runs batted in.
“I think everyone’s different,’’ manager Aaron Boone said. “Some people it doesn’t have an effect, some people it can cripple them, some people it can motivate them. I think in Aaron’s case, I don’t know that it’s any of those. I know what he’s about and what he wants to do.
“That’s why on Opening Day there wasn’t an agreement reached on a longterm deal, what was the effect? My answer was, ‘I don’t think it will have an effect’ just because I know Aaron well, I know what he’s about. He desperately wants to win a championship and that’s where his focus lies. He, maybe more than most, has the ability to separate the business and what we do in there each and every day.’’ ➤ RHP David McKay was traded back to the Rays for cash, continuing a Tampa-Bronx shuffle for McKay. He was acquired by the Yankees from the Rays on April 4. The 27-year-old right-hander made two appearances for the Yankees, throwing two scoreless innings last month. ➤ RHP Albert Abreu was added to the active roster. He was claimed off waivers from the Royals this week. The Yankees traded Abreu to the Rangers in spring training for catcher Jose Trevino, a possible All-Star and new fan favorite.
“Hopefully we can get him back to what we saw on the back half of last year, which was a guy throwing the ball really well,’’ Boone said of Abreu. “He’s obviously got really good stuff. If you recall last year down the stretch we were pitching him in some big-time situations and he was doing the job and got really settled in.’’ ➤ Giancarlo Stanton went into the series with the Astros in a 1-for-27 slide, dropping his batting average to .245. He had reached base in 11 of his past 14 games, though, showing more patience at the plate than he has in the past.
“This is different than those times where he seems a little out of whack or he’s chasing,’’ Boone said. “He’s not doing that. At-bat-wise I feel like he’s in a pretty good place and it’s just bubbling where he kinda really takes off.’’ ➤ Following Wednesday night’s victory against the Rays, the Yankees optioned P Clarke Schmidt to Triple-A Scranton/WilkesBarre. Schmidt was 4-2 with an ERA of 3.00 in 14 games.
“He’s shown that he belongs on this roster and deserves to be here,’’ Boone said. “I think he’s made huge strides to where he was at this time last year.’’