One Yankees fan has some strong opinions on Aaron Judge’s new contract.
Judge on Wednesday morning signed a nine-year, $360 million deal to remain a Yankee, sending many Yankees fans into ecstasy.
However, former WFAN radio host Mike Francesa called the contract “extreme” on the latest episode of The Mike Francesa Podcast.
Francesa’s biggest concern with the contract is how old Judge will be in his final years.
“He will be 31 on opening day so this contract is an extreme contract. It’s a bad contract. The Yankees will pay dearly for that contract in years seven, eight and nine. I don’t think that’s in question,” Francesa said. “He won’t be the same player because nobody is. You don’t know how he’s going to age, how gracefully he’s going to age, how productively he’s going to age. But the bottom line is that he has had injury problems and will be 31 at the end of April.”
Aaron Judge got a nine-year, $360 million contract to stay with the Yankees. Corey Sipkin
Francesa acknowledged the Yankees fans’ joy but made sure they knew that regular-season success is not enough.
“If you’re a Yankee fan today, I know you’re lucky,” Francesa said. “Some of you are overjoyed. You won’t be overjoyed with this contract in six or seven years. But that doesn’t matter. Before that there will be a lot of home runs, a lot of great moments from Judge. Nobody can rule that out. But there have to be big moments after the season. And those were few and far between. That needs to change.”
Mike Francesa at the induction of the Radio Hall of Fame on November 15, 2018. Getty Images
The Astros have eliminated the Yankees in two of the last four years and have been the team they have hunted year after year.
“The status quo will be maintained,” Francesa said. “They still have to tinker with this team, improve this team in some ways if they’re going to compete with the Astros.”