Aaron Judge’s Sensational Season Has Earned Him A Huge Pay Day | It’s Up To The Yankees If They Want To Make Him A $250M Man

Aaron Judge put the ball in the New York Yankees’ court this season, and with his contract set to expire soon, it’s time for them to cash him out with a major deal. Judge has had a special 2021 season and in doing so has put the Yankees’ front office on notice: It’s time for them to pay up.

You saw Judge’s worth Tuesday night when he hit a game-tying home run against the Toronto Blue Jays to start a big three-game series. He’s had a ton of big hits this season.

And best of all, for the most part, Judge finally avoided the injury bug after being hampered by it over the last few years.  He matched his career-high for batting average and doubles while also having the second-highest total of home runs, total bases, RBI, and runs scored in his career.

It’s not hard to tell Judge’s impact on the Yankee roster when you look at their stat sheet, because he leads in nearly every category.  No player has played in more games, recorded more hits, hit more doubles or home runs has a higher on-base percentage, slugging percentage or OPS, and higher WAR than him.  The only player that comes close in a few categories is Giancarlo Stanton, and he himself has been one of the best hitters in baseball during the second half of the season.

Judge started the third All-Star Game of his career this season, yet has never made much over $10,000,000 in any season.  This summer, he is scheduled to go through arbitration and in 2023, he’ll officially be a free agent.

“The ball is kind of in their court,” said Judge to reporters.  “I am just a player.  I just do my job every day.  I am not going to go running to anybody to say “Let’s talk about this.”  That’s their job to do, that’s what they get paid for.  I’m getting paid to be out there on the field.”

Well, Yankees’ general manager Brian Cashman, it’s time to do your job and pay Judge what he is owed.

With multiple big-money shortstops on the market this off-season, I have no doubts that the Yankees will open their checkbook to acquire one of them, but why not do the same for the guy that has been holding your lineup down since the retirement of Derek Jeter?

Judge will be 30 by the time he hits free agency, so a deal similar to that of Fernando Tatis’ (14-year $330M) may not be best for New York’s sake, but something along the lines of $150-$200 million for at least a three or four-year span may be what it takes to make him a Yankee for life.

Before this season, Judge was ranked as the 21st best player in the Majors according to MLB Network.  Fast forward to September 2021 and I guarantee you cannot show me even 10 players that you would rather have on your roster over him.  He’s going to finish in the Top 5 in the American League in MVP voting and might have been able to make his case for winning the award if not for the seasons of Shohei Ohtani and Vlad Guerrero Jr.

Judge has the opportunity to show Yankees Nation he is with all the smoke that comes with October baseball.  If he is able to carry the Yankees into the postseason and on a run for the World Series title, their front office is going to have to hand him a  pen and a blank check.