Aaron Judge may be headed to the San Francisco Giants. Or maybe he’s not. Either way, the Giants have reportedly set a very high bar for the free-agent slugger’s value.
The New York Post’s Jon Heyman reported Tuesday that the Giants have made a “big offer” to Judge, reportedly in the $360 million range.
That figure tops the New York Yankees’ offer of $300 million for eight years reported last week by ESPN. The Giants’ offer would likely be for nine years, in line with what Fox Sports and The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported about Judge wanting at least nine years.
Heyman noted that despite the Giants’ lucrative offer, “the assumption/belief among rivals is that the Yankees remain favorites. Yankees are hopeful but say they still don’t know.”
Giants are in with a big offer to Judge — believed to be $360M neighborhood — but the assumption/belief among rivals is that the Yankees remain favorites. Yankees are hopeful but say they still don’t know.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 6, 2022
The Yankees are the presumed favorite among many. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman even told reporters Monday “I have no idea,” when asked what he would do if Judge signs elsewhere, indicating he doesn’t even have a Plan B.
Judge reportedly met with the Giants several times before Thanksgiving. Bookies.com‘s updated odds put the Giants as the favorites to sign Judge, with a 46.5% chance he’ll go to the Bay Area. The Yankees (40%) are second, followed by the Los Angeles Dodgers (16.7%), Boston Red Sox (9.5%), and the field (6.3%).
The MLB world reacted to Heyman’s report with dubious feelings about Judge heading to the West Coast.
Again, if the Giants lose Judge, it can't be because of money. If he wants to go back to NY, nothing they can do about that. But their offer should be massive. https://t.co/84VbXtBzmX
— Dave (@gggiants) December 6, 2022
That's a big offer https://t.co/8aL7jt5Td9
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) December 6, 2022
Yeah sure every few years the giants are good, but the yankees win 90+ games every year. And I more talking about the marketing, tv coverage, social media coverage. Those west coast players get lost in the national media and people don't even know them.
— Dan Gordon (@dj_roomba00) December 6, 2022
And with that California tax, that’s a no for Judge
— Chuck and the Creepy Baby from New Orleans (@guythanosddd) December 6, 2022
And he can come to Arlington with no tax. pic.twitter.com/1pX6jij8dT
— Ryan Shipley (@XenonSwift) December 6, 2022
THE GIANTS LITERALLY HAVE WON 3 WORLD SERIES SINCE THE YANKEES LAST ONE WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
— Sports Man Ryan Person (@BuckyMadigan) December 6, 2022