Closer than expected!
During the winter of 2022-23, while Yankees fans were preoccupied with the San Francisco Giants and their own worries about Aaron Judge’s free agency, two other MLB teams were quietly making moves for the star player.
One of these teams, the San Diego Padres, was the real reason Judge flew to California during the Winter Meetings. When the Yankees admitted they were unaware of his travel plans, it initially appeared that the Giants had the upper hand. However, it was actually the Padres who brought Judge to town in a last-ditch financial effort. Ultimately, as we know, he declined.
The other less-known bidder, according to Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times, was the Yankees’ division rival, the Tampa Bay Rays. They reportedly offered Judge a 10-year, $300 million contract before the bidding war intensified. Considering Florida’s tax benefits and Judge’s time spent in Tampa that winter, often seen with Tom Brady, this offer carried some appeal.
Did anyone else know about this? I certainly did not. Great digging by Kristie.
Rays offered him 10 for $300 ($30 AAV)
He signed for 9 and $360 ($40 AAV)
Padres offered 12 and $415 ($34.6 AAV)
Wasn’t a hard choice for Judge to turn down, but I commend the Rays for trying. https://t.co/IqMehLvp5T
— Evan Closky (@ECloskyWTSP) July 10, 2024
Yankees captain Aaron Judge wooed by Tampa Bay Rays’ offer; full financial details
How close was Judge to turning down the Yankees and the captaincy for a $10 million lower average annual value (AAV)? In the end, the Rays probably came in fourth, despite their commendable effort. The word “tried” is carrying a lot of weight here, even though this offer was much more substantial than anything rumored for Freddie Freeman.
Judge mentioned in Ackert’s piece that he anticipated offers from California teams during free agency but didn’t expect much from the Rays until they made their “respectful” offer.
Each year, the Rays achieve a lot with limited resources, consistently challenging the Yankees with their endless supply of on-base machines and powerful pitchers. They likely won’t attract many free agents until they move to a more appealing stadium and possibly get new ownership. The largest free agent contract in franchise history? Zach Eflin’s three-year, $40 million deal, which is already rumored to be on the move in its second year.
The Rays deserve credit for recognizing a generational talent and attempting to break their usual patterns, but the Yankees were likely more concerned with other offers Judge received.
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