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Are New York Yankees choosing Aaron Judge over Carlos Correa?

By Kevin Henry

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 02: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees in action against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium on October 02, 2021 in New York City. The Rays defeated the Yankees 12-2. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 02: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees in action against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium on October 02, 2021 in New York City. The Rays defeated the Yankees 12-2. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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Is it possible that the New York Yankees will not spend the necessary money to bring in a high-priced shortstop like Carlos Correa in order to save those dollars for a potential contract extension for Aaron Judge? One MLB insider thinks it could well be a possibility.

Here’s why Aaron Judge could be more valuable in the mind of the New York Yankees than Carlos Correa

In an interview with ESPN 97.5 in Houston, ESPN MLB insider Buster Olney floated the idea that the New York Yankees may hold on to their money this offseason knowing what will likely be an expensive contract extension for 30-year-old Aaron Judge, who made $10.175 million last season, could be looming. Judge is scheduled to be a free agent following the 2022 campaign.

“I know the Yankees, while they need a shortstop, I think some of their focus has been on trying to save some of their financial ammunition for an Aaron Judge negotiation coming up,” Olney said as part of a sound bite you can hear below.

There is little doubt that the Yankees are hoping to keep Judge long-term, as Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner discussed last month as part of this article.

"“He’s a great Yankee,” Steinbrenner said. “He’s one of the faces of the franchise, and he’s a great leader, great in the clubhouse. So it’s definitely something I’m willing to talk to Cash (Yankees general manager Brian Cashman) about, but nothing formal has happened yet.”"

What might a Judge extension look like? Joel Sherman of The New York Post has estimated a five-year, $189 million deal might be what it takes to lock up Judge throughout the prime of his career. As he mentions, that would be an average annual value (AAV) of $37.8 million, which would top Gerrit Cole’s AAV of $36 million, which set an all-time Yankees record.

Next. Here's how close the Yankees were to signing Justin Verlander. dark

With Correa estimated to make $320 million over 10 years in his next deal wherever he signs, will the Yankees find a lower-priced alternative at shortstop and save their money to ensure they can afford for Judge to be a part of the franchise for years to come? It could well be something that is being weighed by the Yankees brass as the MLB lockout rolls along.

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