As Judge stays hot, Cashman mum on slugger’s contract

NEW YORK — As the ball sailed into the second deck, you could almost hear the cash register adding up more money on Aaron Judge’s expected freeagent contract. The Yankees’ 30-year-old slugger not only leads the majors with 10 homers this season, he’s been clutch. Tuesday night’s blast was Judge’s first career walk-off home run and it’s coming as he and the Yankees are headed toward an arbitration date believed to be in June.

Brian Cashman declined to comment Wednesday on whether the Bombers have made any progress on a deal for Judge this season or beyond. The Yankees GM reiterated what he said hours before the team’s first game of the season; the Yankees tried negotiating a long-term extension that, including the 2022 season, would have been worth $230 million.

“When I talked to everybody here right before the season started, just to shine a light on everything, we honored the conversations... we certainly made an attempt and then we’re not going to talk about it now going forward,” Cashman said before the Yankees took on the Blue Jays at the Stadium. “Whether that means we’re not going to talk — and I’m not saying that — but we’re not going to talk about it here in this forum moving forward.

“But he’s been great, but that’s no surprise because he is great.”

Cashman said the team does have a date for arbitration with Judge, who turned down $17 million this spring, but would not disclose when it will be.

Judge had been clearly annoyed that hours before first pitch with the Red Sox, Cashman had come into the press conference room and laid down the details of the deal that he had turned down.

“It’s something I felt like was private between my team and the Yankees,” Judge said. “Cash has a job to do.”

Cashman said there have been no lingering issues between him and Judge, saying Wednesday that he was not aware that the right-fielder had wanted to keep it private.

Judge is not playing like a man worried about his contract. He is slashing .290/.356/.626 with 10 home runs, 22 RBI and a .982 OPS.

Record for Chapman: Aroldis Chapman made it interesting, but he saved Wednesday’s win for his 152nd save with the Yankees, surpassing Goose Gossage for sole possession of third place on the Bombers’ all-time list.

Chapman gave up a leadoff double to Santiago Espinal, who advanced to third on a wild pitch. He walked pinch hitter Vinny Capra. Espinal scored on George Springer’s sacrifice fly to right field, snapping a 13.1-inning scoreless streak and the first run that Chapman has allowed this season.

After Bo Bichette hit a long drive just foul into the seats, Chapman struck him out and then coaxed a harmless pop out from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to end the game.

“I was encouraged actually, today,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “He falls behind and Espinal got a hit on the slider there 2-1 and then he walked the pinch hitter there. But I liked that he went in and really got after it with his fastball again, and when he did his fastball got better.”

On the move: As expected, the Yankees sent right-handed reliever Ron Marinaccio back to Triple-a Scranton after Wednesday’s game. They need the spot on the 26-man roster to activate Luis Gil, who will start Thursday’s game.