Yankees’ Aaron Judge backup plan will make Red Sox fans furious

The New York Yankees reportedly have connected with a free agent, and it won’t make Boston Red Sox fans happy.

The New York Yankees have already re-signed one of their most pivotal players, and that was first baseman Anthony Rizzo on a two-year deal with a club option for a third. Outfielder Aaron Judge is set to hit free agency, and the Yankees claim they will not be outbid for him. It appears that they have already reached out to some big free agents.

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Yankees have made “several surprising free-agent connections,” one of them being Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts.

“Beyond re-signing star first baseman Anthony Rizzo to what amounts to a $40 million deal for two years plus an option Tuesday, they have made several surprising free-agent connections, including with marquee shortstops Trea Turner, Carlos Correa and Xander Bogaerts and also crosstown center-field star Brandon Nimmo,” writes Heyman.

Yankees reportedly make free agent connection with Xander Bogaerts

Losing Bogaerts in free agency is already a situation Red Sox fans are fearing. But imagine watching him hit free agency, and sign with the rival Yankees.

When it comes to the shortstop position, the Yankees have indicated that it could be an open competition throughout spring training. Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Oswald Peraza, Oswaldo Cabrera, and top prospect Anthony Volpe are expected to battle for the starting shortstop position on Opening Day.

Could a free agent shortstop really be in their plans? Well, that all depends on how much money owner Hal Steinbrenner is willing to spend in free agency.

Bogaerts is coming off of a 2022 season where he recorded .307 batting average, a .377 on-base percentage, a .456 slugging percentage, 15 home runs, 73 RBI, 84 runs scored, and 171 hits. He was named to the All-Star Game for the fourth time and won the Silver Slugger award for the fifth time in his career.

For Yankees fans, they are obviously more focused on if they’re able to sign Judge to a long-term deal. Then, it would shift to what other free agents the team plans on bringing in to help them make a push for their first World Series appearance since 2009.