BREAKING: New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge shockingly reveals recruiting strategy on Juan Soto back to Bronx
Aaron Judge surprised many Yankees fans on Friday by revealing that he has not been actively recruiting free-agent superstar Juan Soto to return to the Bronx. Despite the duo’s remarkable success during the 2024 season, Judge emphasized giving Soto space to make his decision.
“I haven’t talked to him at all,” Judge said, via ESPN’s Jorge Castillo. “I think the best thing is to really give those guys space. I talked to him all season. He knows how we feel about him. The most important thing is now let him do his thing with his family, pray about it, talk with people, and come to the right decision for him and his family.”
Soto, acquired by the Yankees in a blockbuster trade with the San Diego Padres before the 2024 season, formed an extraordinary partnership with Judge. Together, they combined for 99 home runs, 250 runs scored, 253 RBI, and an 18.7 WAR, creating one of the most prolific duos in baseball history.
The Yankees are clearly interested in bringing Soto back, as evidenced by a recent meeting between the team, Soto, and his agent Scott Boras in Southern California. Owner Hal Steinbrenner described the meeting as “good,” indicating the team’s commitment to retaining the All-Star slugger.
While Judge has not reached out to Soto directly, he has been involved in discussions about the team’s offseason plans. “I went down to Tampa for about a week kind of right after the season and met with [Steinbrenner],” Judge explained. “We discussed a lot of things—from Juan to other guys that are out there that I think could definitely help this team. I kind of just give my input on a couple of things.”
The Yankees face significant competition for Soto’s services, but Judge’s hands-off approach underscores the respect he has for his teammate’s decision-making process. Fans will anxiously await updates as Soto weighs his options for the future.
What teams have met with Juan Soto?
Juan Soto is attracting significant interest during his free agency, with meetings reportedly held with several high-profile teams, including the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, and Toronto Blue Jays. The Philadelphia Phillies are also expected to meet with the four-time All-Star soon, underscoring the fierce competition for his signature.
Soto is expected to command a groundbreaking contract, likely exceeding $600 million, with the potential to set records for both total contract value and annual average value. This could make Soto one of the highest-paid players in MLB history.
Despite Soto’s looming megadeal, Yankees captain Aaron Judge—who signed his own nine-year, $360 million contract just two years ago—expressed no concern over Soto potentially surpassing his earnings.
“It ain’t my money,” Judge said, via ESPN. “I really don’t care as long as we get the best players, we get the most that we can. I’m with whatever. That’s never been something on my mind about who gets paid the most. It’s just whatever we can do to get the best players, I’ll take it.”
Soto’s free agency is not expected to drag on for long. Reports suggest the superstar outfielder could sign with his new team before December’s MLB Winter Meetings, ensuring clarity for both Soto and his suitors as they prepare for the 2025 season.
The Yankees are considered strong contenders for Soto, but with teams like the Dodgers and Mets also aggressively pursuing top talent, the race to sign him could come down to who is willing to break new financial ground to secure one of baseball’s brightest stars.