Aaron Judge is reportedly set to sign with the San Francisco Giants, ending one of the hottest free agency races in recent years. Judge, who broke the American League home run record last year, has been a free agent since the Yankees were beaten in the post-season.
Judge became a free agent at the end of the season and has spent the off-season meeting with potential teams. The Yankees were desperate to keep him in New York, but it seems they're set to miss out.
The Los Angeles Dodgers were also said to be interested, and reports suggest they made a contract proposal to him, which was rejected. Late on Tuesday night, it was reported that he had chosen to sign with the Giants.
San Francisco was always likely to be Judge's new home, as he grew up in the Bay Area and was born in Sacramento, California. The 30-year-old has remained coy over his future, and there was initial confusion after it was first claimed he would be heading home.
New York Post's MLB reporter Jon Heyman first reported the news, tweeting: "Arson Judge appears headed for the Giants". However, just minutes after the initial tweet went out, he retracted, tweeting: "Giants say they have not heard on Aaron Judge, My apologies for jumping the gun."
The story didn't end there, however, as Giants beat writer Susan Slusser reported that the Giants players were starting to communicate to each other that Judge was coming. She then claimed Tuesday evening's events were "by far the most smoke we've seen out of the Giants camp re Judge."
Despite the Giants reportedly sealing the deal, New York radio host Michael Kay received a text, allegedly from a member of the Yankees organisation, which stated: "The Yankees are still in play".
Earlier on Tuesday, Yankees manager Brian Cashman admitted he still didn't know what Judge would be doing. He said: "It's his dance card. He’s a free agent. He has a chance to make decisions for him and his family. I can tell you that we are negotiating hard.
“We’d love to have our player back. We’d love to be able to continue to call him our player every step of the way as he follows what looks like -- as long as nothing happens -- a career path right to Cooperstown. We’d love it to be in pinstripes every step of the way. At the same time, there’s competition. Who they are or how many, I couldn’t tell you. I just know we’re putting our best foot forward and feel we have a lot to offer.”
