After Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees failed to reach an agreement on an extension, speculation began almost immediately if the Mets, with Steve Cohen’s deep pockets, could swoop and bring the pinstriped star to Queens this offseason.
However, that does not seem likely.
According to Audacy MLB insider Jon Heyman, Cohen believes the Yankees made a “very fair” offer to Judge, he wrote in the New York Post.
Another source said Cohen “wouldn’t do that to the Yankees,” although it is unclear why the owner of the Mets would owe his crosstown rival anything. The two teams do seem to have a good relationship, though, swapping releivers in a rare trade prior to the start of the season.
Judge, who turns 30 this month, rejected a seven-year, $213.5 million extension that would begin in 2023.
Per Heyman, Judge is seeking a nine or 10-year deal (or nine-year extension) for at least $308 million with $36 million per year.
Judge has said he is comfortable testing free agency but his injury history makes it quite a gamble on himself for not locking in a deal with the Yankees.
It is still possible Judge and the Yankees reach a deal in the offseason, but there is an alternative the Yankees could pursue if Judge indeed leaves.
According to Heyman, the Yankees are known to be motivated to pursue Washington Nationals All-Star slugger Juan Soto if they cannot bring back Judge.
Soto turned down a massive extension with the Nationals this offseason and has three years remaining on his contract until he becomes a free agent.
The Mets recently sought Soto’s younger brother, Elian, in a move that many saw as the team trying to set itself up to lure Soto to Queens before he verbally agreed with Washington, but if the Nationals seek a trade it would most likely be outside the division, which brings the Yankees into play.
Soto is only 23 years old, six years younger than Judge, and his left-handed bat would be an ideal fit in the Bronx.
He’s been a top-five MVP finisher the last two seasons, has won a World Series and has a career .979 OPS — about 40 points higher than Judge’s career OPS.
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