Aaron Judge could come to regret turning down Yankees extension offer

The New York Yankees offered Aaron Judge a contract extension of seven years and $213.5 million. Will Judge receive a larger offer, or will he come to regret this decision?

Judge is set to turn 30 years old in late April, a typical dead period for receiving any long-term contract offer north of five years. Yet, the Yankees gave the star outfielder what he wanted in a sense — long-term security. A seven-year offer worth north of $30 million per season.

The player and his representatives balked, and will not be re-signing with the Yankees during the regular season. He’s set to be a free agent after the season, and there’s a very good chance he just turned down the most average AAV he’d receive as a player at this point.

Aaron Judge contract offer

Judge is set to receive $17 million in his final season of arbitration eligibility, meaning the Yankees total offer would’ve been for over $230 million and eight years. That’s…substantial, and more money than most players north of 30 years old can dream of making.

Freddie Freeman is a great case study. Freeman signed a six-year, $162 million contract at the age of 32. That’s a year less than Judge would receive now, and for $3 million less per season. Judge will be entering his age-31 season next year, and he’s dealt with severe injuries plenty during his time as a Yankee.

Yankees made their best offer

The Yankees made their best offer, for once, and it’s tough to blame the front office for Judge’s failure to take a reasonable contract.

Judge’s contract would’ve been the highest among right fielders by AAV, and he would’ve been the highest-paid player in the history of the New York Yankees. There’s something to be said about all of that.

Hopefully, Judge puts up another MVP-caliber season and can receive the money he so desires. But should he prove fragile, or struggle to replicate those statistics, he’ll be left wondering what if.