The Houston Astros completed their 4-game sweep of the New York Yankees in the ALCS to move on to the World Series, ending the Yankees season in humiliating fashion, and now the attention turns to Aaron Judge.
Judge, who is a surefire MVP winner this year, is coming off a historic season where he belted an American League record 62 homeruns. Despite the regular season success, Judge struggled mightily in the playoffs, and now he heads to free agency this offseason where he could end up playing for a new team in 2023 and beyond.
“Just an incredible season,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of Judge, according to ESPN’s Marly Rivera. “Someone that I’ve grown close with and just admire and respect. And hopefully we’ll see him in pinstripes for a long time. I don’t even want to think about the alternative right now.”
“I’d be real disappointed if he’s not back; big shock if he’s not back,” Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu said. “But you just never know how that goes. I feel like he definitely wants to be here, but when it becomes a business, it changes a lot.”
“That’s all going to run through my agent. I haven’t even thought about the next step yet,” Judge said. “But like I said, we’ve got time to figure it out.”
“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 continued. “I always checked myself pregame, when I’d say a little prayer, I’d kind of look around the stadium and kind of pinch myself that there’s very few individuals that get a chance to run out on that field and do that and play in front of the fans that support us throughout my whole six years here. It was a special time. I just kick myself for not bringing home that championship for them.”
Judge also addressed the disappointing end to their season.
“This is never fun, but I think it’ll definitely make, when we finally get there and secure this thing, it’ll make it a lot sweeter, going through the tough times like this, that’s for sure,” Judge said.
“I’ve been clear about that since I first wore the pinstripes. But we couldn’t get something done before spring training,” Judge said of his intentions to remain a Yankee. “I’m a free agent. We’ll see what happens.”
