TAMPA, Florida. New York Yankees star slugger Aaron Judge will soon receive a long-term contract extension offer, general manager Brian Cashman said Saturday.
“From now until opening day, we will make an offer and he will obviously get an offer and all the transformations will take place and either turn into a multi-year deal or not,” Cashman said. “We are committed. We will make an offer and listen to what he says in response, and then it will be the pencils lowered before the opening day.
The Yankees open the season on April 7 at home against the Boston Red Sox.
Judge said he did not want to negotiate an extension during the regular season. The outfielder, who turns 30 next month, is eligible to become a free agent after the World Series.
The Yankees and Judge failed to reach an agreement for 2022, which could result in the parties going to arbitration during the season. He asked for a raise from $10,175,000 to $21 million, and the Yankees offered $17 million.
“Our position has always been that we only get into hearings if we get dragged there,” Cashman said. “We only go when we have to go. We are not afraid to go. Our history shows that we stay out of this arena unless we are forced into it. Let’s see how it all turns out.”
The referee hit .287 with 39 homers and 98 RBIs in 148 games last season.
Possibility Gardner?
Since the start of spring training, Cashman has been contacted several times by outfielder Brett Gardner’s agent, who is a free agent after playing for the Yankees from 2008 to 2021.
“Honestly, right now we are focused on what we have,” Cashman said.
Gardner, 38, hit .222 on a .327 slugging percentage in 140 games last season.