Aaron Judge makes his Giants dream crystal clear in TIME interview

The San Francisco Giants are chasing top free agent Aaron Judge, who grew up rooting for the team by the Bay.

In a curiously-timed interview with TIME magazine, Aaron Judge was named Athlete of the Year for 2022. In an interview with the national outlet, Judge was an open book, discussing his ongoing negotiations with the Yankees, and his childhood in northern California.

Judge mentioned that he was unhappy with how negotiations transpired last offseason, and that the Yankees offer to him — seven years and $213.5 million — was made public. Judge called it a negotiating tactic, but one which was designed to make him look bad to fans and media.

The 30-year-old also discussed his childhood in California, where he grew up a Giants fan. Judge’s wife, Samantha Bracksieck, reminded him of a prediction he made in 2010 during his senior year of high school.

“I said, in 10 years, I’ll be married to Sam,” said Judge, “and playing for the San Francisco Giants.”

So, what’s the point of any negotiating tactics? Judge is going to the Giants, right?

Will Aaron Judge sign with the San Francisco Giants?

While it is smart of Judge to consider his childhood dream, much has changed since high school (as is the case for most of us). Aaron Judge is the face of the New York Yankees, the most popular brand in professional sports. He has a chance to be the highest-paid player in the sport, in New York, and resume his spot as arguably the best player in baseball.

Doing such things in New York City offers exciting branding opportunities that San Francisco, as great of a city as it is, does not offer despite the size of California’s media markets.

Judge will get his money, that much is for sure. The Giants will likely offer more of it, to make up for California tax laws and to try and convince Judge to leave the only professional organization he’s ever known. We’re talking about the New York Yankees here, folks.

As TIME notes, Judge’s free agency has all the makings of a tremendous homecoming story. But will he actually have the gall to pull the trigger and shock the sport in the process?