Did Aaron Judge just hint he will not return to Yankees?
Aaron Judge’s future with the New York Yankees is still very much uncertain halfway through the 2022 MLB season, but the All-Star slugger may have tipped his hand on which way he is leaning.
Prior to Tuesday night’s All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium, Judge was asked by ESPN’s Marly Rivera what he had to say to a young fan named Jacob in Astoria who was upset that the MLB home run leader may not be back in pinstripes.
Judge, normally very measured and prepared every time he speaks, was uncharacteristically caught off-guard, as if he just got thrown a backdoor breaking ball, leading to this response:
“Jacob, buddy, we got a lot of great Yankees on this team. A lot of great Yankees [are going to] be here for a long time. Don’t be upset. I hope you’ll be a Judge fan for life.”
That was not exactly a vote of confidence that Judge envisions himself in pinstripes.
To give Judge the benefit of the doubt, he did not seem ready for that question, or at least not the way it was phrased by sending a message to a young fan about his future.
Perhaps that led to an awkward answer from Judge. Or maybe he really feels the Yankees will not come through on their offer or that he has already made up his mind and wants to play elsewhere.
Regardless, it still seems unlikely Judge will go anywhere other than whoever gives him the most money. And that could very well still be the Yankees.
Until then, let the speculation continue.
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