TAMPA – Carlos Beltran broke some news – sort of – on his first day as a broadcaster on YES Network Monday.
During Monday’s game against the Phillies at Steinbrenner Field, Beltran appeared to imply that the Yankees had signed Judge for an overtime in order to stay in the Bronx long-term.
Shortly after the comment, however, Beltran corrected himself and said he “hopes” both sides would agree on an extension.
“I’m just thrilled that he can secure this new contract with the New York Yankees and extend his stay here in New York,” Beltran said on the show. “He’s an incredible guy … He’s a hard-playing game guy, and I bet the message has to be, according to the judge, that the Yankees are willing to commit this long. And at the same time… they want to build around it. They understand he’s a leader, so I’m pleased that Aaron Judge is extending his tenure here with the New York Yankees.”
But sources said no deal was finalized with the judge’s self-imposed opening day deadline to call off negotiations until after the season is just three days away.
General manager Brian Cashman said the team will work on an extension within Judge’s timeframe.
If they don’t agree on a new deal, Judge and the Yankees will go to arbitration during the regular season. The judge asked for $21 million and the Yankees countered with $17 million. He is scheduled to become a free agent after the World Series.
Aaron Judge during a Yankees spring training game on March 25, 2022.Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
Carlos Beltran (R) during his YES Network debut on Monday with John Flaherty.YES Network
Three years ago, Luis Severino signed a four-year, $40 million extension before his pre-arbitration hearing was due to begin.
Beltran’s arrival was significant even before his slip-up, as he was back with the team for the first time since the Astros sign-theft scandal broke in 2017.
After Beltran acknowledged in an interview published by YES Sunday that the Astros had “crossed the line” during their championship run, which “tainted” their title, Beltran declined to address the scandal again Monday.
On the air, Beltran said: “We have to move on. In life we make mistakes. Often you don’t want to do this. You move on, apologize for what happened and move on. It’s hard to live in the past. You have to live in the present. I look forward to living in the present.”
Judge and Kyle Higashioka — both members of the 2017 Yankees team that lost to Houston in seven games in the ALCS — said Sunday they’d put the scandal behind them, and Beltran said he hoped they didn’t bring it up again would have to.
“It’s difficult for you as a player, every time you come into the stadium and have to address the media about a situation that has nothing to do with you, it takes a lot from the batsmen and players,” Beltran said. “Hopefully that can go away and players can focus on playing the game.”