Last year there was this sense of urgency around signings during Thanksgiving week because of the impending strike looming MLB. This year, the off-season signings have been at a calmer pace, unless of course you are us—Yankee fans waiting for notification that Aaron Judge will return to pinstripes. With the Winter Meetings ready to kick off next Sunday, we will likely see some big deals get done. It is the week before the storm, my friends, as the Winter Meetings make the Judge conversation even hotter.
“A lot of stuff doesn’t kick in until the winter meetings in December,” Aaron Judge said earlier this month after winning the AL MVP Award," reported the New York Post. Now, all eyes are focused on the meetings which will be San Diego beginning December 4th.
According to the New York Post, "Judge’s free agency did receive some juice this past week, when he took a two-day visit with his hometown Giants, though it remains to be seen whether he will take meetings with other teams before he makes his decision. The Dodgers are expected to be another suitor for Judge while Yankees general manager Brian Cashman recently said the team has an offer on the table for the star outfielder." The pacific coast time zone will provide news on signings to New Yorkers at different, perhaps weird times. But reporters will be hot to post as soon as Judge and even Jacob deGrom camps make their move.
"The two-time Cy Young award winner is looking to become MLB’s highest-paid pitcher. Max Scherzer and the Mets reset the standard last year with a record $43.3 million average annual value (three years, $130 million). The Mets believe deGrom wants to stay in Queens as long as there isn’t a significant discrepancy in offers elsewhere, The Post’s Mike Puma reported last week."
Besides the Mets and the Yankees, this trip to San Diego is going to quite expensive for clubs seeking to furnish their clubhouse with key signature players. There is a long list of players on the market, that with a new team, could make them more likely to go far in the playoffs next fall.
As much as I want to just hold my tongue and not jinx our chances of getting Judge, the Yankees need more than AL MVP in their clubhouse to go deeper in the playoffs. Consistent pitching, hitting and staying healthy are keys to winning. Yet signing Judge may also be the catalyst for the Yankees to build around him, with resources that can put the Bombers over the edge and into the World Series. It will be an interesting two weeks, fans. Let's hope it bows well for the Yankees.
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--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof
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