Aaron Judge and Yankees Agree on Deal That Works for Both Sides

Brian Cashman said this many years ago, and it never changes: Desperation drives free agency. A team wants — needs — a player so badly that it will spend whatever it takes to get him, and the salaries climb higher and higher.

Aaron Judge’s new $360 million contract agreement with the Yankees, contingent on a physical examination, will pay him an average of $40 million per season for the next nine years. It’s the richest deal in Yankees history and the highest salary ever for a position player.

Ticket prices are based on what the market will bear, not what owners need to cover their payroll. Unless you worry about how Hal Steinbrenner disburses his fortune, you should rejoice if you love the Yankees.

Cashman, the Yankees’ general manager, revealed last opening day that Judge had rejected the team’s contract offer of $30.5 million per year for seven years. Judge then swatted 62 home runs, more than Babe Ruth in 1927, more than Roger Maris in 1961, more than every other hitter in the history of the American League.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/07/sports/baseball/yankees-aaron-judge-contract.html