The Los Angeles Angels opened up a three-game series in The Bronx on Tuesday, defeating the New York Yankees 5-2. It was a game pitting the last two American League MVPs against each other, Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge.
Ohtani, the 2021 American League MVP, is in the final year of his contract with the Angels and will become a free agent at the end of the season. Judge, the 2022 American League MVP, just went through free agency, ultimately re-signing with the Yankees.
Judge was asked about Ohtani’s pending free agency. He had a cagey answer.
Aaron Judge was asked about Shohei Ohtani's possible free agency:
"He's a great all around athlete. It's going to be exciting to watch. I'm excited to see where he goes. I hope he likes…"
Judge paused, thought better of it, and smiled.
"I'm excited to see where he goes."
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) April 19, 2023
Ohtani is not scheduled to pitch against the Yankees in this series. But on Tuesday, he gave Judge, the Yankees and everyone at Yankee Stadium a show on Tuesday night. He went 1-for-3, scoring two runs and hitting a two-run home run in the first inning.
Sho Borough 😎#GoHalos pic.twitter.com/VCPMFla0W1
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) April 18, 2023
Now, will Ohtani be a Yankee in 2024? Baseball fans had mixed feelings on that when reacting to Judge’s comments.
Judge was quick to backtrack so the Angels don’t file tampering charges against the Yankees… https://t.co/cgGzoKBEDZ
— Doug Rush (@TheDougRush) April 19, 2023
NY had their chance.
— Evan Tarracciano (@Roto_Wizard) April 19, 2023
Cashgod GO TO WORK https://t.co/dstxHKzKdJ pic.twitter.com/Fydq3TVvE7
— CFB INSIDER JROB (@InsiderJrob) April 19, 2023
— Hayden Roadhouse (@HRoadhouse) April 19, 2023
Given his remarkable prowess as both a hitter and pitcher, Ohtani will fetch a pretty penny (or, a lot of pretty pennies) in free agency. The Yankees are one of the few teams with the bankroll to sign him. But they certainly won’t be alone in their quest.