American League MVP Aaron Judge has not spoken to Juan Soto since the end of the World Series, wanting to give him time and the privacy to make his own free agent decision, but it’s hardly as if he’s just sitting back and crossing his fingers that Soto returns to the New York Yankees.
Judge divulged Friday during his MVP conference call that he spoke a few weeks ago to Yankees managing partner Hal Steinbrenner on the importance of retaining Soto if they are to make their first back-to-back World Series appearances since 1998-2001.
“We discussed a lot of things from Juan to other guys that are kind of out there than can definitely help this team,’ Judge said. “I kind of was giving my input on a couple of things. And honestly, it ain’t my money, I really don’t care as long as we get the best players, get the most of what we can, I’m happy with whatever.’
Judge received the largest contract in Yankee history as a free agent two years ago when he signed a nine-year, $360 million deal. Soto is seeking a deal worth at least $600 million as one of the most coveted free agents in baseball history.
DODGERS WIN WORLD SERIES: Celebrate with this commemorative coffee table book!
Follow every MLB game: Latest MLB scores, stats, schedules and standings.
Yet no matter how much more Soto receives, there will be no jealousy.
“That’s never been somethings on my mind who gets paid the most,’ Judge said. “Whatever we can do to get the best players, I’ll take it. That’s what it kind of comes down. All of the guys we have in the clubhouse, Giancarlo Stanton kind of set that example.
‘He signed the first big mega-contract in Miami (13 years, $325 million), but once he came here, he never cared about being the highest-paid guy. He just wanted good players around him. You can ask anyone in the room, they kind of feel the same way.’
Judge has no inside information about negotiations, just as Steinbrenner said this week that he has no idea where Soto is headed, but appreciates that Steinbrenner will meet at least once a homestand with himself and veteran starter Gerrit Cole to talk about the state of the team.
“I feel like it’s really all on Hal,’ Judge said. “When I was a free agent at the end of ’22, that’s one of the first things he said was, ‘Hey, I really want to build a relationship with you and have you being a part of this. …You’re going to be a Yankee for life.’ So he really opened it up to me whether I had any input, if I had any feelings about things, because he’s not down in the clubhouse, he’s not on the field every single day, so just having that relationship where I can really communicate with him what I’m seeing, what I’m feeling, what I see with the guys, and other guys we play against, I love it.
“It’s a cool part to where the more communication you have from top to bottom, it makes everybody better, being honest with each other, and talk about how we all feel, what we’re seeing. I enjoy it. It kind of comes with being in the position I am, and being the captain as well.
“The fact they’re listening, and want to know what we have to say is a pretty cool part of it.’’
Even though it was Judge who protected Soto in the lineup, Judge believed Soto’s presence helped make him a better player, driving in a career-high 144 runs this year compared to 131 during his first MVP season in 2022.
“You look at that Dodgers lineup where those first three guys are MVPs,’ Judge said of Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. “You’re going through three tough at-bats back-to-back-to-back there. I think having a chance having Juan hit in front of me, I get to see a lot of pitches. He’s going to be a tough at-bat in front of me. He’s going to wear down the pitcher right there in the first inning, within the first 15 pitches or so.
“That was a big impact having a guy like that in front of me.
“If I could have eight Juan Sotos in the lineup with me, I’d love that.’
Soto, 26, is well aware how valuable he was to the Yankees’ lineup. Judge made sure to remind him all season how much he means to the entire franchise, feeling no need to bother him with phone calls now.
“I haven’t talked to him at all,’ Judge said. “I think the best thing is to give those guys space. I talked to him all season. He knows how we feel about him. I think the most important thing is to let him do his thing with his family. Pray about it. Talk to people. And come to the right decision for him and his family. …
“We’ll see him down the road.’
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
