The New York Yankees and their star slugger Aaron Judge will avoid an arbitration hearing after all. The two sides managed to work out a deal earlier this week, and Judge will finish the season on a one-year, $19 million contract.
The two sides were set to appear at an arbitration hearing on Friday. The Yankees were looking to pay the 30-year-old an annual salary of $17 million, while Judge asked for $21 million. In the end, the two sides met in the middle while adding some incentives to the agreement. Judge can increase his earnings by $250K with the regular-season Most Valuable Player award and will get another $250K if he wins World Series MVP.
The Yankees wanted to lock Judge to an extension before the season started and reportedly offered him a seven-year, $213.5 million extension that would keep him with the franchise through 2029. However, Judge decided to pass on the offer and will instead test free agency, which is now looking like a great decision.
Judge is currently in the midst of a career season and is among the favorites to take the AL MVP award. He is batting a career-high .304 throughout the first 68 games and has 27 home runs and 53 RBIs. The three-time All-Star is on pace to hit 60 homers, which would make him the first player to do so since 2001.
