The Yankees have a potential arbitration hearing with Aaron Judge coming up this season after the two sides couldn’t agree on a salary for 2022, but that could be avoided if the two sides agree on a contract extension.
According to Brian Cashman, Judge will have an extension to look over very soon.
The Yanks general manager confirmed, via MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch, that the team will be presenting the Yankee star slugger with an extension offer before Opening Day, which Judge has said is a deadline to reach a deal before he shifts his full focus to the season and awaits free agency in the winter. Judge, the face of the franchise and a three-time All-Star, has been the team’s most valuable player since his historic rookie season in 2017, and pressure is mounting for New York to lock him up long-term after an underwhelming offseason that was widely criticized for the team’s lack of moves.
With Opening Day less than two weeks away, negotiations will likely begin soon for an extension, and Cashman has confirmed it will begin with an offer from the team. How far apart the two sides will be to start remains to be seen, but they were reportedly $4 million apart on salary negotiations for the upcoming season, Judge’s final one of arbitration.
Cashman also said that he has been in contact with Brett Gardner’s agent, but it doesn’t sound like there is much immediate motivation to bring the veteran outfielder and longest tenured Yankee back for another season.
“Right now we’re focused on what we have in camp, to be honest,” Cashman said.
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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