Aaron Judge bet on himself, had historic regular season … what comes next for Yankees slugger?

Kristie Ackert, New York Daily News

Aaron Judge was consistent through the end. The Yankees’ slugger never let himself talk about his free agency during the season. After he turned down an extension offer worth $234 million on Opening Day, Judge made himself focus on the field.

He went out and had a historic season with free agency and the possibility he may never play in the Bronx in pinstripes again waiting at the end. So Sunday night, after the end came in a 6-5 loss to the Astros in Yankee Stadium, Judge said he still wasn’t ready to think about his future.

Not even walking off the field as the final out Sunday night, did Judge think about it as the end.

“Not at all. I tried to go out there and do my job and help this team win and I really didn’t think of it. It happened so quickly. You don’t really have time to soak in,” Judge said. “That’s all gonna run through my agent. I haven’t even thought about the next step yet, but like I said we got we got time to figure it out. I’ve never been in this spot before, so I don’t know how to answer that.”

The 30-year-old was clearly unhappy on Opening Day, when, after he had declined the Yankees’ eight-year extension offer, GM Brian Cashman came out and laid out the details of what was on the table. At the time, it was a deal that would have been worth $234 million including 2022. Judge bet on himself, that he could get more than the annual AAV of $30.5 million.

And it is turning out to be a smart bet.

While some will remember that he slashed .139/.184/.306 with two home runs, 15 strikeouts and a .490 OPS in the playoffs, Judge had a historic season, quieting doubts about his ability to stay healthy and putting up MVP-type numbers — while mostly playing center field.

“Incredible. Just an incredible season and someone that I’ve grown close with and just admire and respect and hopefully we’ll see him in pinstripes for a long time,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “I don’t even want to think about the alternative right now.

“But he means a lot to a lot of us in that room.”

His bat would mean a lot in other lineups as well and there are teams who are willing to pay for it.

The Giants, near his native northern, central California home have been rumored as a landing spot for Judge. The Red Sox, Dodgers and Mets have also been rumored landing spots.

Judge has always made it clear, however, that he would like to play his entire career with the Yankees — if they are fair with their offer.

Sunday night, he expressed how special playing here was to him.

“Getting the chance to wear the pinstripes and play right field at Yankee Stadium. It’s an incredible honor that I definitely didn’t take for granted at any point,” Judge said. “I always check myself pregame when I say a little prayer and I kind of look around the stadium and kind of pinch myself. There were very few individuals to get a chance to run out in that field and do that and play in front of the fans who have supported us throughout my whole, six years here.

“So it was a special time you know, I just kick myself for not bringing home that championship for them.”

He gave them plenty to cheer for though — especially this season.

He led the majors with 62 home runs and a 10.6 bWAR, and was tied with the Mets’ Pete Alonso with 131 RBI. The 62 home runs broke a 61-year-old American League and Yankees’ single-season home run record. It is the seventh-most-ever hit in a single season in baseball history.

If it is the end of an era in the Bronx for Judge, it was a pretty memorable ride. He debuted in 2016 with a home run in his first big-league at-bat, foreshadowing his time in pinstripes. He may have struggled the rest of that season, but in 2017 he left no doubts that he would be the leader of this team of homegrown “Baby Bombers.”

He was the American League Rookie of the Year in 2017, hitting .284/.422/.627 with a then-rookie record 52 homers and 114 RBI. He’d finish second in A.L. MVP voting to the Astros’ Jose Altuve.

In that postseason, Judge led the “Baby Bombers,” to an unexpected postseason run, setting expectations high for another Core Four-like dynasty.

It never came.

Gary Sanchez fizzled out, Dellin Betances was brilliant, but he was worn out. Luis Severino was limited to 27 innings over three years by injuries and Greg Bird never panned out. They have made the playoffs every season since Judge’s rookie year, but never won an AL pennant, let alone a World Series.

Judge was also slowed by injuries himself, something that he has overcome the last two seasons. He missed 45 games in 2018 with a right wrist fracture, 54 in 2019 with a strained oblique and in 2020 he missed 30 of the COVID-abbreviated 60-game season with a calf strain. Since then he has missed just nine games on the COVID injured list.

Judge’s age will also be a factor in his contract. He will be entering his age 31 season in 2023, four years older than most of the players who recently got mega, long-term contracts. He could, however, challenge the top AAV of the game. The Mats’ Max Scherzer’s $43.3 million tops the charts and his now former teammate Gerrit Cole set a Yankees’ record at $36 million.

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