Yankees World Series Odds Unchanged Despite Aaron Judge Signing
By Peter Dewey
The New York Yankees have reeled in the biggest fish of the MLB offseason.
Well, they just made sure he stayed in their waters.
Perhaps Vegas felt that was the move all along because they've haven't changed the Yankees World Series odds at all.
Aaron Judge and the Yankees reportedly are in agreement on a nine-year deal worth $360 million to keep him with the franchise for likely the rest of his MLB career. This comes after it was wrongly reported yesterday that Judge was signing with the San Francisco Giants.
Source confirms: Aaron Judge in agreement with Yankees, nine years, $360M. First: @JonMorosi.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 7, 2022
With Judge back in the fold, it seems Vegas was prepared for him to stay. The Yankees are +900 at most sportsbooks to win the World Series, the same odds they had when the market opened following the 2022 season.
BetMGM Sportsbook First to Move on Yankees Futures Odds Following Aaron Judge Signing
One book has finally moved their number post-Judge returning to the Big Apple. After opening the day at +1100, the best available odds on the board for the Yankees to win the World Series, BetMGM Sportsbook has now brought their number down to +850 for the Bronx Bombers to capture the Fall Classic.
Aaron Judge has agreed to a 9-year, $360 million contract with @Yankees.
— John Ewing 🦁 (@johnewing) December 7, 2022
Yankees move from +1100 to +850 to win World Series at @BetMGM pic.twitter.com/B1YnFdNc7q
Despite the one move from BetMGM, bringing back Judge didn't ultimately change how Vegas viewed the Yankees. It just kept the status quo.
Latest World Series Odds for 2023 MLB Season
Judge, who won the American League MVP last season and came a batting title short of the Triple Crown, is one of the best players in baseball and easily the face of New York's premier franchise.
His return obviously is huge for the Yankees, and their odds to win the World Series would have likley plummeted had he signed elsewhere.
Now, New York can turn its focus to improving the rest of the roster, and it should have some of the money to do so with Aroldis Chapman, Zack Britton and others off the books this season. The Yankees still have questions in the outfield after Judge, but some combination of Harrison Bader, Oswaldo Cabrera, Giancarlo Stanton and potentially Aaron Hicks appears to be New York's path forward.
The Yankees could also look to add some more pitching depth, especially since Jameson Taillon signed with the Chicago Cubs in free agency. New York did bolster its bullpen by signing Tommy Kahnle on Tuesday.
Carlos Rodon could be a potential front-end starter option for the Yanks, and the team could also make a run at one of the many shortstops (Dansby Swanson, Carlos Correa, Xander Bogaerts) on the market after struggling with that position last season.
New York Yankees Predicted Win Total for 2023 Season
New York is projected to win 93.5 games this coming season at BetMGM after a 99-win campaign in the 2022 season.
Judge carried the Yankees' offense in the second half of the season, but the Yankees fell off after a hot start, showing that this team needs to add more to truly contend for a World Series.
Hal Steinbrenner has been reluctant to go over the luxury tax in recent years with this team, but now that Judge is back in pinstripes for the foreseeable future, it's possible the Yankees are willing to break the bank to contend for a World Series in 2023 and beyond.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.