Did Aaron Judge’s cryptic comments foreshadow Juan Soto’s fate?
Maybe Aaron Judge had a good read on Juan Soto's free agency.
Judge's interesting comment about how he chose to give Soto “space” during free agency rather than sell him on a return to the Bronx was due to Soto going to the Yankees and ending the Mets' historic 15-year career. Now that I have chosen $765, I have a different vibe. A $1 million deal could reach $805 million.
“I think the best thing to do is give them space,” Judge said in late November of his pitch to Soto. “I've talked to him all season. He knows how we feel about him. The most important thing is to let him do what he has to do and do what's right for him and his family. It’s about making a decision.”
Aaron Judge and Juan Soto during their final match. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
Judge's comments were notable because while most teammates typically focus on how their teammates pitch when they return, the reigning MVP appeared to be taking the opposite approach.
That's not to say the judges didn't throw Soto all season, though former Met Trevor May called it “weird.”
“But if you want him, sometimes you have to flex that muscle a little bit, because you're Aaron Judge,” May said on his podcast last month.
“You're the LeBron James of this game right now, so if you can be him and it helps you and you can get him, that's what matters at the end of the day. It was interesting and in some ways strange that he insisted on not talking, but it seemed a little out of place in the situation.
Follow The Post's coverage of Juan Soto's historic blockbuster deal with the Mets.
Soto got a new home and was simply chasing the money, but the question arises as to whether Judge knew that in the end, nothing mattered in the end.
Soto is a client of Scott Boras, and players who sign with his agency often seek the highest offer. It's a well-known fact throughout the sports world.
Juan Soto and Aaron Judge enjoyed one season together. AP
And assuming Judge and Soto have been talking all year, Judge has a sense that what he said doesn't matter because the only thing that matters is which team made the most offers to Soto. It might have been.
Admittedly, Soto did nothing that year to dispel that notion, often saying he was open to any offers (aka let's have a bidding war) because there were no favorites to win.
Former Marlins president David Sampson alluded to that theory in his own remarks. Podcast “Nothing Personal”.
In the end, the Yankees were offered $5 million less in total, $45 million less in incentives, and $15 million less in his contract than the Mets, the latter of which was exclusively reported by the Post.
“This rumor spread because Hal Steinbrenner wanted Yankees fans to know that we wanted the band to be together. I wanted to be with them like I was there,” Samson said. “How do the players feel about it? Aaron Judge basically said how he felt. 'Yes, I won't get involved.' I didn't think it was very…but it was a little weird. You heard it. There was no full court press from his teammates who loved him so much. please.
“Do you think players can't see through other players and love each other off the field? If they can perform, they certainly love what they do on the field. Why bother getting paid twice as much as the captain? Would you like to have a player join?”
Soto's $765 million contract is more than double Judge's $360 million contract signed two offseasons ago, which can be attributed to the age difference between the two.
Judge signed his contract before his age-31 season, while Soto signed his contract before his age-27 season.
Did Aaron Judge’s cryptic comments foreshadow Juan Soto’s fate?
Maybe Aaron Judge had a good read on Juan Soto's free agency.
Judge's interesting comment about how he chose to give Soto “space” during free agency rather than sell him on a return to the Bronx was due to Soto going to the Yankees and ending the Mets' historic 15-year career. Now that I have chosen $765, I have a different vibe. A $1 million deal could reach $805 million.
“I think the best thing to do is give them space,” Judge said in late November of his pitch to Soto. “I've talked to him all season. He knows how we feel about him. The most important thing is to let him do what he has to do and do what's right for him and his family. It’s about making a decision.”
Judge's comments were notable because while most teammates typically focus on how their teammates pitch when they return, the reigning MVP appeared to be taking the opposite approach.
That's not to say the judges didn't throw Soto all season, though former Met Trevor May called it “weird.”
“But if you want him, sometimes you have to flex that muscle a little bit, because you're Aaron Judge,” May said on his podcast last month.
“You're the LeBron James of this game right now, so if you can be him and it helps you and you can get him, that's what matters at the end of the day. It was interesting and in some ways strange that he insisted on not talking, but it seemed a little out of place in the situation.
Follow The Post's coverage of Juan Soto's historic blockbuster deal with the Mets.
Soto got a new home and was simply chasing the money, but the question arises as to whether Judge knew that in the end, nothing mattered in the end.
Soto is a client of Scott Boras, and players who sign with his agency often seek the highest offer. It's a well-known fact throughout the sports world.
And assuming Judge and Soto have been talking all year, Judge has a sense that what he said doesn't matter because the only thing that matters is which team made the most offers to Soto. It might have been.
Admittedly, Soto did nothing that year to dispel that notion, often saying he was open to any offers (aka let's have a bidding war) because there were no favorites to win.
Former Marlins president David Sampson alluded to that theory in his own remarks. Podcast “Nothing Personal”.
In the end, the Yankees were offered $5 million less in total, $45 million less in incentives, and $15 million less in his contract than the Mets, the latter of which was exclusively reported by the Post.
“This rumor spread because Hal Steinbrenner wanted Yankees fans to know that we wanted the band to be together. I wanted to be with them like I was there,” Samson said. “How do the players feel about it? Aaron Judge basically said how he felt. 'Yes, I won't get involved.' I didn't think it was very…but it was a little weird. You heard it. There was no full court press from his teammates who loved him so much. please.
“Do you think players can't see through other players and love each other off the field? If they can perform, they certainly love what they do on the field. Why bother getting paid twice as much as the captain? Would you like to have a player join?”
Soto's $765 million contract is more than double Judge's $360 million contract signed two offseasons ago, which can be attributed to the age difference between the two.
Judge signed his contract before his age-31 season, while Soto signed his contract before his age-27 season.
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