The Mets will likely have their own superstar free agent to worry about in ace Jacob deGrom, but many are still wondering if the free-spending Steve Cohen could make a push for the biggest current star in the Big Apple.
Aaron Judge is headed for free agency, and the American League home run record, and will command a massive payday on the open market. As the Mets were getting back on track with a win over the Pirates on Thursday night, MLB insider Ken Rosenthal was asked on the television broadcast if the Mets are going to be in on Judge this winter.
“Even if he can’t get Judge, I have a hard time imagining he won’t make a bid or at least show interest, if only to drive up the price for the Yankees,” Rosenthal said of Cohen. “If the Mets’ season doesn’t end up as successfully as they want it to, why wouldn’t they be interested in Aaron Judge?”
Cohen has shown a willingness to spend what it takes to bring in top talent, like signing Francisco Lindor to a record extension and Max Scherzer to a record contract in terms of AAV. Judge would command more than both, but it’s hard to count Cohen out on any free agent, though Rosenthal still believes the Yanks have to be the favorite to keep their homegrown superstar.
“Things do happen in free agency,” Rosenthal said. “He was not pleased when the Yankees announced what they offered him on Opening Day. Who knows how this goes? If the Yankees pay him what he wants, yes, he stays. If they do not or it becomes a situation where other teams are jumping in and wooing him, who knows? I would bet the Yankees, but with free agency, you never can be sure.”
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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