Masataka Yoshida, Red Sox Reportedly Agree to 5-Year, $90M Contract
Dec 7, 2022
OSAKA, JAPAN - MARCH 10: Outfielder Masataka Yoshida #34 of Japan warms up prior to the game two between Japan and Mexico at Kyocera Dome Osaka on March 10, 2019 in Osaka, Japan. (Photo by Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images)
The Boston Red Sox and Japanese outfielder Masataka Yoshida agreed to a five-year deal worth $90 million on Wednesday, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.
Per that report, the deal will include a posting fee of $15.4 million to Yoshida's former club, NPB's Orix Buffaloes.
Yoshida, 29, hit .336 with 21 homers, 89 RBI, 57 runs and a 1.007 OPS in 121 games last season. Across seven seasons with Orix he's slashed .327/.421/.539 and won a Japan Series championship this past year.
He struck out just 42 times across 515 plate appearances last season.
"He has a talent to hit," Team Japan manager Hideki Kuriyama told MLB Network's Jon Morosi. "... He could hit for distance. He can hit for contact. He can adjust. He has a smaller build but the ability and talent to do anything."
Wednesday has been a big day for the Red Sox, with the team also signing closer Kenley Jansen to a two-year, $32 million contract. He led the National League with 41 saves for the Atlanta Braves last season, the eighth time in his career he's posted 30 or more saves.
And there were reports that the Red Sox were advancing in negotiations to bring back star free agent Xander Bogaerts:
Red Sox are in heavy discussions with star shortstop Xander Bogaerts
But Yoshida will be a major addition, bolstering an outfield that saw its fair share of turnover last year, outside of left fielder Alex Verdugo. Kiké Hernández battled injury, Jackie Bradley Jr. was released in August and young prospect Jarren Duran continued to struggle at the MLB level.
Yoshida should lock down one of the corner-outfield positions and potentially the leadoff spot in the Boston order, too.
"He's someone that we really like and spent a lot of time on," Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom told reporters before Yoshida's signing went public. "Really, really good hitter, quality at-bat. Great talent."
Cole Hamels Hopes to Pitch in 2023; 4-Time All-Star Last Pitched in MLB in 2020
Dec 7, 2022
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 16: Starting pitcher Cole Hamels #32 of the Atlanta Braves throws to a Baltimore Orioles batter in the second inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 16, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Cole Hamels is aiming to pitch for an MLB team in 2023, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman.
The veteran starting pitcher made 27 appearances for the Chicago Cubs in 2019, going 7-7 with a 3.81 ERA and a 4.09 FIP. His 2.5 WAR ranked fifth among Cubs pitchers.
While his days as an elite ace were gone, the 38-year-old looked to still have another solid season or two left in the tank coming off that success. The Atlanta Braves obviously thought so too, signing him to a one-year, $18 million contract.
However, Hamels pitched a total of 3.1 innings in the shortened 2020 campaign. He experienced shoulder discomfort during the spring and then battled triceps tendinitis as Opening Day neared.
During his first start, the southpaw's shoulder problems arose again and landed him on the injured list. That was the beginning and end of his run with Atlanta.
The same situation played out in 2021 after Hamels signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in August for the remainder of the season.
Two weeks into his tenure, the Dodgers placed him on the 60-day injured list because of arm pain he experienced while working out in a simulated game. He collected a cool $1 million despite not throwing a single inning for the team.
Heyman reported shortly thereafter Hamels was hopeful of making at least one more comeback attempt rather than hang up his cleats. Based on how poorly his stints in L.A. and Atlanta unfolded, it looks like the decision might be out of his hands.
Stats are courtesy of FanGraphs unless otherwise noted
MLB Rule 5 Draft 2022 Results: Team by Team Breakdown
Dec 7, 2022
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 10: Thad Ward #18 of the Scottsdale Scorpions pitches during the game between the Surprise Saguaros and the Scottsdale Scorpions at Scottsdale Stadium on Monday, October 10, 2022 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Jill Weisleder/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Major League Baseball held its Rule 5 draft on Wednesday, a chance for players at an MLB level but perhaps without a natural path to a regular role with their current team to get selected by another squad.
The team that lost the player would then receive $100,000 from the drafting clubs.
Below are the draft results and a breakdown of the top players moved.
Round 1
1. Washington Nationals: RHP Thad Ward (Boston Red Sox)
2. Oakland Athletics: 1B Ryan Noda (Los Angeles Dodgers)
3. Pittsburgh Pirates: LHP Jose Hernandez (Dodgers)
4. Cincinnati Reds: OF Blake Sabol (Pirates)
5. Kansas City Royals: pass
6. Detroit Tigers: RHP Mason Englert (Texas Rangers)
7. Rangers: pass
8. Colorado Rockies: RHP Kevin Kelly (Cleveland Guardians)
9. Miami Marlins: RHP Nic Enright (Guardians)
10. Los Angeles Angels: pass
11. Arizona Diamondbacks: pass
12. Chicago Cubs: pass
13. Minnesota Twins: pass
14. Red Sox: pass
15. Chicago White Sox: RHP Nick Avila (San Francisco Giants)
16. Giants: pass
17. Baltimore Orioles: RHP Andrew Politi (Red Sox)
18. Milwaukee Brewers: RHP Gus Varland (Dodgers)
19. Tampa Bay Rays: pass
20. Philadelphia Phillies: RHP Noah Song (Red Sox)
21. San Diego Padres: LHP Jose Lopez (Rays)
22. Seattle Mariners: RHP Chris Clarke (Cubs)
23. Guardians: pass
24. Toronto Blue Jays: pass
25. St. Louis Cardinals: RHP Wilking Rodriguez (New York Yankees)
26. Yankees: pass
27. New York Mets: RHP Zach Greene (Yankees)
28. Atlanta Braves: pass
29. Houston Astros: pass
30. Dodgers: pass
Round 2
All teams passed in the second round.
Key Takeaways
It was a bit of a surprise that Thad Ward was made available for Wednesday's Rule 5 draft by the Red Sox, but it wasn't much of a shock that he was immediately off the board.
He has the potential to be a very nice get for the Nationals:
Thad Ward's slider is a big league out pitch. Can manipulate it to a harder cutter in the upper 80s as well which he can use to tie up lefties.
Thad Ward is one of the better prospects I've seen drafted in the Rule 5 in a while. Was a legitimate candidate for my top 10 for the magazine. Nice get for Washington.
The Nationals have selected Red Sox RHP Thad Ward with the No. 1 pick in the Rule 5 draft. Soon-to-be 26-year-old had Tommy John surgery in 2021, returned healthy late in the season and then pitched in the Arizona Fall League. Could be a swingman in Nats rotation/pen.
Mike Rizzo says Thad Ward will be stretched out in spring training like starters, most likely will spend the season as a multi-inning reliever. But they do view him as a starter long-term.
Ward, 25, went 0-2 with a 2.28 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 66 strikeouts in 51.1 innings for four different teams last season (13 total starts).
Noda, 26, was excellent for Triple-A Oklahoma City last season, hitting .259 with 25 homers, 90 RBI, 86 runs, 20 stolen bases and a .870 OPS in 135 games.
Hernandez, the No. 3 player off the board and a bit of a surprise selection, has impressed with his fastball but may need to work on his complementary pitches:
Finally, while the Pirates added Hernandez they lost Sabol. The 24-year-old hit .284 with 19 homers, 75 RBI, 74 runs, 10 stolen bases and a .859 OPS in 123 games between Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis.
Cubs Rumors: Dansby Swanson Viewed as 'Most Realistic' SS Target Amid Correa Buzz
Dec 7, 2022
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 15: Dansby Swanson #7 of the Atlanta Braves fields a ground ball in the eighth inning during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday, October 15, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
The Philadelphia Phillies were the first team to make a major move in the shortstop market this offseason when they agreed to an 11-year, $300 million deal with Trea Turner, per ESPN's Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan, but the Chicago Cubs may not be far behind.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported the National League Central team sees Dansby Swanson as "their most realistic target at shortstop, assuming they don't go big for [Carlos] Correa."
He notably called the idea of signing both Swanson and Xander Bogaerts "far-fetched" after Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reported the Cubs could go that route and ask the latter to switch to third base.
Jon Morosi of MLB Network also called Swanson the "most likely" shortstop for the Cubs, although Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports reported the team is "well down the road with Correa."
Chicago's interest in Correa is nothing new.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported the team "jumped into the Correa sweepstakes" last offseason before he signed with the Minnesota Twins, and he would be a major addition for a club looking to return to competitiveness after two consecutive losing seasons.
Correa's resume includes a World Series crown, Rookie of the Year, Gold Glove and two All-Star selections, and he could be the new face of a team that has lost Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Javier Báez and Willson Contreras, among others, in recent years.
The team has already been aggressive this offseason by adding Cody Bellinger on a one-year, $17.5 million deal, per Passan, and pitcher Jameson Taillon on a four-year, $68 million deal, per ESPN's Jesse Rogers.
Yet it needs more star power and could be counting on the shortstop market to provide it.
Swanson is more than just a consolation prize, though, considering he is coming off a season that saw him win a Gold Glove and make his first All-Star Game. He slashed .277/.329/.447 with 25 home runs and 96 RBI for the Atlanta Braves in 2022 and helped lead them to a World Series title the previous season.
Chicago would likely respond to signing Swanson or Correa by moving Nico Hoerner off shortstop and bolstering the middle infield defense as it looks to build a contender as soon as next season.
MLB Rumors: Michael Conforto, Andrew Benintendi, Michael Brantley Interest Astros
Dec 7, 2022
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 02: Michael Conforto #30 of the New York Mets reacts after hitting a ball deep for a home run during the eighth inning of the game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on October 2, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
The Houston Astros have been at the center of free agency this winter, signing José Abreu and losing Justin Verlander to the New York Mets.
Expect them to remain at the center of baseball's offseason happenings.
According to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, the Astros "continue to look at free agents Andrew Benintendi, Michael Brantley and Michael Conforto as options for their outfield. After losing out on Willson Contreras, they might even explore signing two of the three."
All three would give the Astros a boost in their outfield, as only right fielder Kyle Tucker is a surefire starter.
Benintendi, 28, was a first-time All-Star in 2022 and hit .304 with five homers, 51 RBI, 54 runs and a .772 OPS in 126 games between the Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees last season.
While he doesn't offer a ton of pop, he does hit for average (.279 for his career) and would be a defensive upgrade in left field.
Brantley, 35, is a five-time All-Star and still hits for average (.288 in 64 games last season), though his power numbers have diminished in recent years, as he managed just eight homers in 121 games during the 2021 campaign.
Shoulder surgery cut his 2022 campaign short. If Brantley re-signs, it would likely be on a one-year deal, but he's been a fixture for this Astros team since 2019.
Finally, the 29-year-old Conforto would offer the most power of the bunch, as he posted three straight seasons of 27 or more homers from 2017 to 2019. He didn't hit that mark in 125 games in 2021, however, hitting .232 with 14 homers, 55 RBI, 52 runs and a .729 OPS for the New York Mets.
Offseason shoulder surgery and a rejected qualifying offer followed, and Conforto sat out the entire 2022 season. Signing him would come with the calculated gamble that some of his pop will return.
Carlos Correa Rumors: Dodgers Not Pursuing SS Partly Over Concerns About Fan Support
Dec 7, 2022
Minnesota Twins' Carlos Correa looks to the dugout after hitting a two-run home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
The Los Angeles Dodgers need a shortstop after losing Trea Turner in free agency to the Philadelphia Phillies, but Carlos Correa reportedly isn't a replacement option.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that one reason is the team's concern that the fanbase wouldn't welcome the move because Correa played on (and fiercely defended) the 2017 Houston Astros, who were caught orchestrating an illegal sign-stealing scheme after taking down the Dodgers in that year's World Series.
"The Dodgers are not pursuing shortstop Carlos Correa in part out of concern that a sizable portion of their fan base would not welcome the move. Correa was the most outspoken member of the 2017 Astros club that stole signs illegally during the postseason, and beat the Dodgers in a seven-game World Series."
Correa left Houston for the Minnesota Twins in free agency last offseason and hit .291 with 22 home runs and 64 RBI.
Rosenthal noted that's not the only reason L.A. may be reluctant to deal with Correa or any other big-name free agent, though, citing the uncertainty of how much back pay they will owe suspended starting pitcher Trevor Bauer, who signed a three-year, $102 million contract before the 2021 season.
"As the Dodgers wait to learn whether Major League Baseball will uphold Trevor Bauer’s two-year suspension for violating the league’s policy on sexual assault and domestic violence, club officials are uncertain how much back pay, if any, they will owe the pitcher," Rosenthal wrote.
Bauer is appealing that decision, and he will lose $60 million in salary if he loses. If he wins and gets his suspension overturned or cut down, then L.A. will have to pay.
"The Dodgers as a third-time luxury-tax offender would be assessed penalties on top of his salary," Rosenthal wrote. "As noted by the Los Angeles Times, the team’s total payout could exceed $100 million."
That's not an insignificant amount even for a team that had an MLB-high payroll that was north of $270 million last year.
Ultimately, Correa will get paid. Turner signed an 11-year, $300 million contract with Philadelphia, and Correa could be in the neighborhood of that deal as well.
"It's going to take a seven-, eight- or nine-year deal for $265 to $300 million. Maybe more," Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News reported on the Mackey & Judd radio show (h/t Joe Nelson of Bring Me The Sports).
Jim Bowden of The Athletic predicted Correa would sign a 10-year, $327 million deal with the Chicago Cubs.
He won't have a shortage of suitors with money to burn. The Twins reportedly want him back, per Rosenthal, and the San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres could be in the mix. Those NL West teams reportedly offered Aaron Judge $360 million and $400 million contracts, respectively, before the American League MVP returned to the New York Yankees.
Correa played seven seasons in Houston before joining the Twins. His resume includes two All-Star Game appearances, the AL Rookie of the Year and a Gold Glove in 2021.
What's Next for Yankees in Free Agency and Trade Market After Aaron Judge Megadeal?
Dec 7, 2022
Aaron Judge
A 99-win season and sixth straight playoff appearance is a successful season for most MLB franchises, and re-signing the reigning MVP is almost always a reason to celebrate, especially when he's the homegrown face of your franchise.
However, the New York Yankees aren't most franchises, and simply bringing back Aaron Judge—a move reported by MLB Network's Jon Morosi on Wednesday—to a flawed roster that was exposed in October is not going to cut it.
"I think they understand that the 13-year championship drought feels like about 130 years in Yankee land, and I think there's more to come," MLB insider Mark Feinsand said on MLB Network on Wednesday morning.
The last time the Yankees went at least 13 years without winning a ring were some of the leanest seasons in franchise history. They reached the playoffs just three times in 17 campaigns between titles in 1978 and 1996, and outside Don Mattingly, not much went right during that time.
When they finally came out the other side of that dry spell, they kicked off a bona fide dynasty, winning four rings in five years.
The question now: What do the Yankees need to do to set themselves up for similar success with Judge back in the fold?
1. They Need 1 More High-End Starting Pitcher
Carlos Rodón
The high-end shortstop market has grabbed headlines this offseason, but starting pitching has been the fastest-moving market by far.
Here's a look at all the starting pitchers who earned a spot among the top 50 free agents at the start of the offseason, according to MLB Trade Rumors:
Carlos Rodón Jacob deGrom Justin Verlander Koudai Senga Chris Bassitt Jameson Taillon Taijuan Walker Sean Manaea Andrew Heaney Noah Syndergaard Nathan Eovaldi Clayton Kershaw José Quintana Zach Eflin Tyler Anderson Ross Stripling Michael Wacha Corey Kluber Drew Rucinski
Seeing all of those names already crossed off should tell you all you need to know about the sense of urgency with which the Yankees need to approach upgrading their starting rotation if they intend to do so via free agency.
The early reports are that they are aiming high and aggressively targeting Rodón:
Now that Judge has been secured, what’s next for the Yankees? They have definite interest in Rodon. They feel that Rodon has the mettle to succeed in NY. A tough, talented lefty at the Stadium would be a nice fit.
The great unknown of this year's market is right-hander Koudai Senga, who has been one of the Japanese League's top pitchers for several years. It's always a bit of a crapshoot projecting how a player's game will translate to the majors, but his 2022 numbers are tough to ignore. The 29-year-old had a 1.89 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 159 strikeouts in 148 innings in 2022. He won't be subject to the posting system, so he's free to sign anywhere this offseason.
Beyond those two, grizzled veteran Corey Kluber might be the best target. With his experience and track record of postseason success, there is little doubt he would be able to handle the pressures of pitching in Yankee Stadium—where he called home in 2021 and where he sports a 3.04 career ERA.
If free agency doesn't prove to be the answer, the Yankees could also turn their attention to the trade market.
The Milwaukee Brewers are one hypothetical trade partner, not because they are not expected to contend in 2023, but because it's unlikely they will be able to afford both Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff long term, as both will be free agents after 2024. However, the Brewers have already indicated they don't intend to move either starter, per USA Today's Bob Nightengale.
The more likely trade partners are the Miami Marlins, who have a wealth of young, controllable starting pitching and have indicated their willingness to listen to offers on anyone besides NL Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara, per the New York Post's Jon Heyman.
The Yankees' best target in terms of acquisition cost, likelihood of a deal getting done and expected production is Pablo López. The 26-year-old is controllable through the 2024 season, and he posted a 3.75 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 174 strikeouts in a career-high 180 innings in 2022 while serving as Miami's No. 2 starter.
The Marlins have reportedly shown interest in veteran third baseman Justin Turner in free agency, per the Miami Herald's Craig Mish, so perhaps they would have similar interest in Josh Donaldson if the Yankees were to absorb some of his salary.
How about this for a hypothetical deal:
To NYY: RHP Pablo López
To MIA: 3B Josh Donaldson, SS Oswald Peraza, RHP Yoendrys Gómez, C Josh Breaux, $11.75 million (to offset Donaldson's $21.75 million salary)
Peraza, 22, checked in No. 56 on our final Top 100 prospect list of the 2022 season. He hit .306/.404/.429 with three doubles and one home run in 57 plate appearances after making his MLB debut on Sept. 2, and he checks all the boxes to be an everyday middle infielder in the big leagues. It's a steep price to pay, but one the Yankees should seriously consider.
Plugging in either Rodón or López alongside Gerrit Cole, Nestor Cortes, Luis Severino and a healthy Frankie Montas would give the Yankees one of the deepest starting rotations in baseball, with Domingo Germán as terrific depth in a swingman role.
That's not all that remains on the shopping list, though.
2. The Yankees Also Need an Outfielder
Andrew Benintendi
Pencil in Judge as the everyday right fielder and deadline pickup/postseason hero Harrison Bader as the starting center fielder, but the other spot in the Yankees outfield is still up for grabs.
Oft-injured veteran Aaron Hicks has hit .211 with an 83 OPS+ and 1.3 WAR in 162 games over the past two seasons, and while he's still owed $30.4 million over the next three years, counting on him to hold down an everyday spot is a recipe for disaster.
Rookie Oswaldo Cabrera saw some action in left field, even starting five games there during the playoffs, but he's probably more valuable in a super-utility role than he is tethered to an everyday spot in the outfield.
So who's left in free agency?
Brandon Nimmo is likely going to command north of $100 million, and whoever gives him that contract will be paying in part for his ability to man center field. With Bader on the roster, the Yankees would be wise to let someone else pay that premium.
Andrew Benintendi is a logical target after the Yankees acquired him as a rental at the deadline, but his age (28) and near-career year offensively in 2022 (124 OPS+) could drive his asking price beyond a range the Yankees are interested in paying.
The most appealing option in terms of dollars and cents might be a one-year deal with bounce-back candidate Michael Conforto. He spent the 2022 season in free-agency limbo after receiving a qualifying offer and then undergoing shoulder surgery. He has 30-homer power, but there will likely be some rust after a year on the sidelines.
An outside-the-box target to monitor is Japanese outfielder Masataka Yoshida, who was posted by Orix Buffaloes on Tuesday, per ESPN's Jeff Passan, and has 29 days left to sign with an MLB team.
The 29-year-old hit .336/.449/.559 with 28 doubles, 21 home runs and almost twice as many walks (82) as strikeouts (42) in his seventh professional season in Japan.
Of course, there is also the trade market, where one name stands out above the rest.
Pittsburgh Pirates star Bryan Reynolds will be talked about as a trade chip until he either signs a long-term deal or is in fact traded.
The 27-year-old has three years of club control remaining, which means the Yankees would almost certainly have to part with Anthony Volpe and more to pry him loose, but his 8.9 WAR the past two seasons ranks sixth among all outfielders.
Other potential trade targets include Ramón Laureano (OAK), Victor Robles (WAS) or someone from the Arizona Diamondbacks' long list of controllable outfielders that includes Corbin Carroll, Alek Thomas, Jake McCarthy and Daulton Varsho.
Best guess: The Yankees sign Conforto to a one-year, $18 million deal to slightly exceed the $17.5 million contract the Chicago Cubs gave to fellow rebound candidate Cody Bellinger earlier this week. It's a low-risk, high-reward move that pairs well with the long-term commitment they just made to Judge.
Are They Really Only 2 Pieces Away?
Brian Cashman
The Yankees, like most teams, would benefit from adding a few more established relief arms, and a left-handed bench bat would also be nice considering Anthony Rizzo, Cabrera and Hicks are the only players on the projected roster who hit from the left side.
But all things considered, if they can cross top-tier starter and left fielder off their shopping list between now and Opening Day, they will have as complete a roster as any team in baseball heading into the 2023 season.
The winter meetings are winding to a close, but there's still a lot of offseason left.
Passan: Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto 'Primed' to Land MLB's First $500M Contracts
Dec 7, 2022
DENVER, COLORADO - JULY 12: Juan Soto #22 of the Washington Nationals hugs Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels bat during the 2021 T-Mobile Home Run Derby at Coors Field on July 12, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
While the baseball world is focused on a free-agency class that included Aaron Judge, Carlos Correa, Trea Turner and Justin Verlander this year, there may be even bigger contracts coming down the line.
ESPN's Jeff Passan made an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show and said Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto are "primed" to become the first players in Major League Baseball history to sign $500 million contracts.
Soto is under contract through the 2024 season, while Ohtani is signed through just 2023.
Passan's suggestion is particularly notable for Soto considering one reason he is no longer on the Washington Nationals was his decision to reject a 15-year, $440 million offer during the 2022 campaign.
Washington shifted into trade mode when it realized he would not be re-signing and sent him to the San Diego Padres in a deal that also saw the National League West team land Josh Bell. The Nationals received shortstop C.J. Abrams, pitcher MacKenzie Gore, first baseman Luke Voit and three highly regarded prospects.
Either Soto had no interest in remaining with the Nationals that long or assumed a $500 million offer would be coming his way down the road and rejected the $440 million offer.
Soto is just 24 years old and in the middle of his prime as a franchise cornerstone who already has a World Series crown, batting title, three Silver Sluggers, two All-Star selections and a Home Run Derby win on his resume.
That makes him an ideal candidate to land such a deal, especially if contracts continue to increase in the future.
For now, Judge has been the benchmark this offseason and agreed to a nine-year, $360 million contract with the New York Yankees, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic and Jon Morosi of MLB Network.
As for Ohtani, he brings something that Judge, Soto or anyone else cannot match as an elite pitcher and hitter. Signing him addresses a need on top of the rotation and in the middle of the batting order, so it follows that he too would be in line to ink a $500 million deal.
The two-way star is also in his prime at 28 years old and has a list of accomplishments that includes an American League MVP, AL Rookie of the Year, Silver Slugger and two All-Star nods.
That list may feature the biggest contract in the sport's history one day as well.
Passan: Shohei Ohtani Will Be Pursued By Yankees, Red Sox, Mets, Cubs in 2023 FA
Dec 7, 2022
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels makes a catch in between pitches during a game against the Oakland Athletics in the seventh inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on September 29, 2022 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Should he hit the open market after the 2023 season, Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani will be on the radar for just about every team that can afford to sign him, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.
"I don't want to say he's going to the Dodgers next year because every team...listen, the Yankees are gonna be on him," Passan said Wednesday on The Pat McAfee Show. "Steve Cohen, the Mets owner, the Mets are gonna be in on him. The Cubs are gonna be in on him. The Pirates are not gonna be in. ... Yeah, Red Sox will be on him."
Ohtani is a truly generational two-way talent who followed up his 2021 Most Valuable Player season by being nearly just as good in 2022.
The 28-year-old had 34 home runs, 95 RBI and a .273/.356/.519 slash line at the plate. On the mound, he went 15-9 with a 2.33 ERA and 219 strikeouts in 166 innings. He was runner-up to Aaron Judge in the MVP voting and placed fourth on the Cy Young ballot.
If he reaches free agency, then every single team in MLB should at least make overtures his way. Of course, his price tag will limit that pool substantially because The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported in June he might eclipse Max Scherzer's record-setting $43.3 million average salary.
There's still the chance Ohtani doesn't reach free agency.
General manager Perry Minasian told reporters in November the Angels have every intention of keeping him on the roster by Opening Day, and this is the same franchise that signed Mike Trout to the biggest contract in MLB history (12 years, $426.5 million).
Team owner Arte Moreno's exploration of a sale presents an obvious variable. But if he does truly intend to sell the Angels within the next few years, then he won't be the one paying Ohtani for a majority of the deal. And you'd think having Ohtani on the roster is something a new owner would prefer rather than trading him or letting him walk as a free agent.
In the event Ohtani plays out his final year with the Angels and doesn't agree to an extension, it could set off a bidding war for the ages next winter.
Aaron Judge's Historic $360M Contract Helps Yankees Regain the Trust of Fans
Dec 7, 2022
New York Yankees' Aaron Judge celebrates a home run in the third inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Monday, Aug. 22, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)
You can practically hear the sigh of relief coming from New York, both from the Yankees themselves and perhaps even more so from their fans.
For against what like pretty good odds, Aaron Judge is coming back.
There were indeed signs aplenty throughout 2022 that the 30-year-old outfielder could leave the Bronx this winter. The most recent came Tuesday when the Yankees got a brief yet system-jolting scare from a report that Judge was headed to the San Francisco Giants.
But as Jon Morosi of MLB.com and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported, the American League MVP is sticking with the Yankees on a nine-year, $360 million contract.
The guarantee makes Judge's deal the richest free-agent signing in MLB history, surpassing Bryce Harper's $330 million pact with the Philadelphia Phillies from 2019.
What happens next for Judge and the Yankees will be determined over the next nine years. For now, it ought to be good enough for anyone with so much as a passing interest in the franchise that such a dramatic chapter in its history has gotten a happy ending.
This Season Wasn't All a Feel-Good Story
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 23: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees looks on after reaching third base in the second inning against the Houston Astros in game four of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 23, 2022 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
It's amazing how, when broken down to its essentials, a story can look so different on paper than what everyone lived through in real time.
The Baseball Reference page for the Yankees' 2022 season is a good example. It shows that they won 99 games and went to the American League Championship Series, and that the 6'7", 282-pound Judge aided the cause with 62 home runs, 131 runs batted in, 133 runs scored, a 1.111 OPS and numerous other stats that made him easily deserving of his first MVP.
A person who looks at that page years from now could get the impression that the '22 season was nothing but good times for the Yankees, and especially for Judge. But us? In the here and now? Yeah, we have the context.
We know that the Yankees went into their '22 campaign on a wave of disappointment, starting with yet another playoff loss to the Boston Red Sox in October 2021 and continuing with a weirdly underwhelming offseason.
The Yankees might have redeemed themselves if they offered Judge, already a three-time All-Star and the 2017 AL Rookie of the Year, a contract extension to his liking before his self-imposed Opening Day deadline. Yet they did not, as he swatted down a final overture that would have paid him $213.5 million over seven years.
Low-balling Judge was merely one of the Yankees' questionable decisions. The other was going public with their terms, which Judge admitted being irked at to Sean Gregory of Time:
“We kind of said, Hey, let’s keep this between us. I was a little upset that the numbers came out. I understand it’s a negotiation tactic. Put pressure on me. Turn the fans against me, turn the media on me. That part of it I didn’t like.”
The Yankees' tactic seemed to work initially. Though Judge started the year in a funk, it's hard to imagine him hearing boos at Yankee Stadium if not for the lingering drama of his contract negotiations.
Aaron Judge says the boos he got toward the end of tonight's game is "nothing new" pic.twitter.com/lluGsfdujK
For a time, things got good. Very good. Judge put himself on pace for home run history and, in turn, elevated the Yankees to historic heights. Through July 8, he already had 30 home runs and the Yankees were off to a 61-23 start.
But while Judge eventually did break Roger Maris' 61-year-old AL home run record, the Yankees skidded to a 38-40 finish and were little more than a pushover in the playoffs. So much so that the boo birds were out at Yankee Stadium in the final two games of the Yankees' ALCS sweep at the hands of the Houston Astros, including for a slumping Judge once again.
In keeping with his usual demeanor, Judge himself took the playoff boos in stride. The general mood of the team, though, was dour. Per SNY's Andy Martino, having the home crowd turn hostile during the ALCS was an "unusually brutal experience" for multiple Yankees.
In Defense of Yankees Fans
New York Yankees' Aaron Judge (99) passes fans waiting for autographs before a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Others have made this point better than we're prepared to, but Yankees fans really showed their butts in 2022.
In addition to the misguided boo birds, who can forget the ugly incident involving Myles Straw and the Cleveland Guardians? Or the treatment of Joey Gallo, who was feeling like, well, less than his best self at the end of his Yankee tenure?
There's only so much one can defend any of this, particularly knowing that bad apples are going to be bad apples and there's nothing anyone can do about it. Yet there also seemed to be another element at play in this behavior that smacked of frustration boiling over.
And that, at least, is understandable.
Though nobody can call the Yankees fans of today "long-suffering," there are at least two things they can justifiably gripe about. The first is that, while 30 straight seasons of winning records is all well and good, the club's 13-year World Series drought is not at all in keeping with a tradition that includes 40 pennants and 27 championships.
And thus, the second thing that Yankees fans can justifiably gripe about: The team hasn't been trying hard enough to live up to that tradition.
Consider the trajectory of the club's payrolls. The Yankees used to go into every season with the league's highest payroll. Save for the shortened 2020 campaign, that hasn't been the case since 2013:
It would be one thing if this could be traced back to sudden shortages of resources, but Forbeshas consistently pegged the Yankees as MLB's most valuable franchise. Its revenues hit $482 million in 2022, and $668 million as recently as 2019.
Rather than one of an inability to spend, the story here has often seemed like an unwillingness to do so. And for this, there's even a smoking gun.
“That’s my job every year, to make sure that we’re financially responsible,” Yankees chairman Hal Steinbrenner told reporters in March. “I’ve got a lot of partners and banks and bondholders and things like that that I answer to. But at the same time, it’s always the goal to win a championship.”
Financial responsibility first, championships second. A fine way to manage the expectations of stakeholders, maybe, but a piss-poor way to placate fans who see 27 representations of the latter every time they visit Yankee Stadium.
A $360 Million Olive Branch
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 18: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees celebrates after winning the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on October 18, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images)
And yet, here we are in a world where Judge is going to be a Yankee for the next nine years precisely because the man at the top threw caution to the wind.
It wasn't just the Giants, who reportedly offered $360 million, and the San Diego Padres, who offered a whopping $400 million, who forced Steinbrenner's hand. It was also Judge himself, who Martino says personally bargained with Steinbrenner on Tuesday night:
Perhaps Judge left money on the table by not taking San Diego's offer, but his new deal otherwise leaves him lacking for nothing.
Judge will earn $40 million per year—a first for an MLB position player—through his age-39 season in 2031. He gets to stay at Yankee Stadium, which has a short right field to suit his aging legs as well as it has his opposite-field power. And true to Steinbrenner's word, it sounds as if Judge will become the Yankees' first captain since Derek Jeter:
Judge is”very likely” to receive the Captain title, as he shouid once Yankees deal is completed
Thus is the way pointed for Judge to truly cement his place among the Yankees' ample stable of icons. There are already many numbers out in Monument Park, but one can easily imagine "99" there as well.
Especially, of course, if Judge helps the Yankees win at least one World Series before the end of his deal.
His signing makes that eventuality so much more likely in the short term, as retaining him means the Yankees are keeping a source of 24 percent of the home runs and nearly 20 percent of the WAR they produced in 2022. The long term hinges on how they build around him, but, hey, that's where such a notable recommitment to spending is even more encouraging than the bounty of potential stars the team has in its farm system.
So as far as Yankees fans should be concerned, the Judge deal is as much a peace offering as it is a transaction. It's a piece of business that signifies that, no matter how overdue, the team clearly means business again.
