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New York Yankees to pay Aaron Judge a lot of money for 70 games

By David Hill

Mar 20, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) looks on during spring training against the Detroit Tigers at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 20, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) looks on during spring training against the Detroit Tigers at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New York Yankees and Aaron Judge are hoping to work out a long term extension. Judge wants to spend his entire career in the pinstripes, and the Yankees desperately need his powerful bat in the lineup. It would seem as though a deal should get done.

But first, the Yankees and Judge need to figure out a salary for this year. They appear to be heading to arbitration as the Yankees offered $17 million while Judge and his representatives countered at $21 million. Either way, it will be a large payday for the slugging outfielder before he theoretically hits the open market in the coming offseason.

New York Yankees paying Aaron Judge a lot for a little

No matter what Judge ends up making this season, it will be a lot of money for someone who is not guaranteed a full season of games. He is one of the Yankees’ unvaccinated players, making him ineligible to play home games in New York City under the current COVID vaccine mandates.

Judge also will not be able to play in other areas. He would not be able to play in either of the Yankees games at Citi Field against the Mets. Likewise, he would not be able to play in any of the Yankees’ nine games in Toronto due to Canada’s vaccine mandates. At this point, Judge would theoretically be able to play a maximum of 70 games this season.

Losing Judge for so many games would be a huge blow to their playoff aspirations. He has been one of the better players in the game when healthy, something that he showed last year. Judge posted a .287/.373/.544 batting line in his 633 plate appearances, hitting 39 homers and 24 doubles. He was brilliant defensively as well, saving 11 runs in right as he deserved Gold Glove consideration.

It is possible that this will change. Judge could end up getting the vaccine, allowing him to play those other 92 games. However, as it stands, he would only appear in up to 70 games depending on any days off on the road.

dark. Next. Yankees no longer the Evil Empire

The New York Yankees are going to pay Aaron Judge a great deal of money in 2022. It will be quite the salary for someone who plays 70 games at most.

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