Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani are two of the biggest stars in baseball. They're also going to be headlining the next two free-agent classes.
Judge is a free agent this winter and Ohtani is set to hit the open market after next season. They are sure to draw plenty of suitors and large contracts. But which one would you rather have?
Evan Roberts debated the merits of both megastars and the Mets' chances on the most recent episode of the Rico Brogna podcast.
“Aaron Judge is a free agent. And he’s having an amazing year, he’s the best player in baseball – at least one of the best players in baseball,” Roberts said (00:17 in player above). "Should we, as the New York Mets, go after Aaron Judge? The following year, Shohei Ohtani is a free agent. Should we go after Shohei Ohtani?”
With Judge being a free agent this offseason, “it’s very realistic that the Mets at least try to approach him,” Roberts said.
“Ohtani is super realistic because even though there’s another year after, Ohtani is a megastar,” he continued. “And I wonder if the Angels with the failures that they’ve had, and the fact that they pay another megastar in Mike Trout, and they’re stuck with that Anthony Rendon contract, which is just horrific. I wonder if the Angels are going to offer him big-time money.”
Judge is hitting .290 with 29 home runs and an OPS just above 1 (1.001) through 74 games this season. He's on a record-setting pace.
Ohtani is having a pretty good season as well with 17 home runs and a .265 batting average through 75 games. On the mound, he's 7-4 with a 2.68 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 74 innings.
“You’re talking about two great players, very different obviously, and you have an owner who’s capable,” he said of Steve Cohen. “An owner that I happen to think is very willing to go out and add another big-time free agent, even with their own free agents they need to take care of.”
Injuries are also a concern with both players, however, especially so with Ohtani being a two-way player.
“If Aaron Judge can never stay healthy that’s fine. But if Shohei Ohtani, someone you rely upon to pitch and to hit, gets injured significantly … that’s two spots you have to fill,” producer Pete pete.
Nevertheless, Judge and Ohtani are two of the top AL MVP candidates and teams, including the Mets, will undoubtedly be vying for their services in the next two offseasons.
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