Did the San Francisco Giants ever have a chance at signing Aaron Judge away from the concrete jungle of New York and bringing him home to sunny California?
If they ever did that answer was trumped by a much different, more pressing question: Would Judge would be named the next captain of the New York Yankees if he stayed in the Bronx and how important was that title to him?
Judge, 30, ultimately agreed to stay in the Big Apple this offseason by inking a new nine-year, $360 million contract, and Yankees held a news conference Wednesday morning to celebrate the new deal and to share a surprise announcement for their fans.
With our All Access Daily newsletter, stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams!
SIGN UP HERE The reigning AL MVP would be joining the illustrious group that includes Hall of Fame legends Derek Jeter, Thurman Munson and Lou Gehrig.
Judge recalled talking to Yankee owner Hal Steinbrenner on the phone during free agency about Munson and how the Yankee catcher impacted a young Steinbrenner growing up.
"We working some things out and, at the end of that conversation, he presented being the captain to me," Judge told a group of reporters. "I was at a loss for words. I was taken aback. It's such an incredible honor ... when you look at that list, it's hard to even find the words. It's just such an honor that I get to finish my career here with that title."
San Francisco Giants
Find the latest San Francisco Giants news, highlights, analysis and more with NBC Sports Bay Area and California.
When asked if not being a Yankee ever entered his mind over the last two months, Judge chuckled and said it was valuable to visit with clubs like the Giants and San Diego Padres during the MLB offseason before ultimately returning to New York.
"I sat down with my wife and we came to the decision in our hearts, and that was we belonged in New York," he said. "There's unfinished business here, and I look forward to finishing that business and leave that legacy of greatness for the next group of guys after me."
Do the Yankees have a captain?
Aaron Judge is the Yankees captain, and is first Yankee to hold the title since Derek Jeter retired from Major League Baseball.
Which Yankee players have been named captain?
Jeter and Judge are most recent but the list of Yankee captains goes back more than 100 years. Here are the 16 captain in New York Yankee history:
- Clark Griffith (P)
- Kid Elberfeld (SS)
- Willie Keeler (OF)
- Hal Chase (1B)
- Frank Chance (1B)
- Roger Peckinpaugh (SS)
- Babe Ruth (OF)
- Everett Scott (SS)
- Lou Gehrig (1B)
- Thurman Munson (Catcher)
- Graig Nettles (3B)
- Willie Randolph (2B)
- Ron Guidry (P)
- Don Mattingly (1B)
- Derek Jeter (SS)
- Aaron Judge (OF)
Judge said at the press conference Wednesday that he intends to retire a Yankee.
"It was a tough situation talking to other teams, going through free agency," he said. "But I came to the ultimate answer and that's that I had to finish my career in New York."
