The Giants did everything they could to lure Aaron Judge back home to the Bay Area. All the New York Yankees had to do was match their effort.
Jon Heyman of The New York Post reported Wednesday that the Giants offered Judge a nine-year contract worth $360 million. Judge reportedly also landed a 10-year, $400-million contract offer from the San Diego Padres in a surprise, last-minute meeting Tuesday, per USA Today's Bob Nightengale.
The Yankees' best offer at the MLB Winter Meetings reportedly stood at eight years and $320 million. But when Judge told Hal Steinbrenner he had larger offers elsewhere on Tuesday afternoon, the Yankees owner tacked on one year and $40 million to his deal to match the Giants' efforts.
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Judge agreed to sign the Yankees' offer early Wednesday morning, closing the door on the Giants' hopes to land the reigning American League MVP. He now is the highest-paid position player in baseball and will earn an average of $40 million per season. Judge will be 39 years old when his contract ends following the 2031 MLB season.
The Giants pulled out all the stops for Judge. They hosted him for a two-day meeting in the Bay Area, which included dinner with executives, a rendezvous around the Bay Area and even a text exchange with Warriors star Steph Curry.
Unfortunately for the Giants' front office, Judge leveraged their offer to head back to the Bronx with a record-breaking deal. The Yankees reportedly are preparing to name Judge the 16th team captain in franchise history and the first since Hall of Fame shortstop Derek Jeter retired in 2014, per Heyman.
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San Francisco Giants
Now, San Francisco must move on to other stars. Shortstop Carlos Correa and left-handed pitcher Carlos Rodón remain two of the biggest names on the free-agent market. Both players would fill needs for an aging Giants team coming off a disappointing 81-81 season.