The Yankees and Judge couldn't come to an agreement on an extension before the opener. 1:45.
The New York Yankees right fielder, speaking to reporters Friday, expressed frustration at not being able to agree on a long-term contract extension with the club.
Judge said after the Yankees' 6-5 extra-innings win over Boston that he wants to be a Yankee for the rest of his life. I would like to do it for the fans here. This is where I call home. I am not getting that done right now. I have a job to do on the field. I have to shift my focus to that now and play some ball.
Judge had a deadline of opening day to come to terms on an extension that would have prevented him from hitting free agency. The Yankees offered a seven-year, $213.5 million extension to him, but he and the team did not reach an agreement, with GM Brian Cashman telling reporters earlier Friday that the entire package would have been just over $230.
When asked if he wanted to address the fact that the Yankees made the rare move of publicly revealing their monetary offer, Judge refused to get into specifics and described it as the business side of baseball.
I don't like talking numbers. I like to keep that private. Judge felt like it was private between his team and the Yankees. Cashman has a job to do, and I cannot control that. It didn't take me by surprise, there's nothing to be upset about. It is business. It is a side of the sport that I enjoy. In business, anything can happen, so you have to deal with it.
Judge and his agent, Page Odle, believed that negotiations with the Yankees would be a distraction and would only continue after the season.
Judge said that he and his team are prepared for any process that takes them, even if it means working out a deal with the Yankees on his 2022 salary.
Judge said they were prepared for both. I don't think it's good for either side because they say some things I wouldn't want to hear and we say some things they don't want to hear. I think it would be great if we could avoid it at all costs. We are ready for either way.
Judge said he was willing to assume the risk of injury if he passed on an extension.
Judge, one of the most popular players in all of baseball, is believed to be seeking a deal that would place him among the top-paid outfielders in the game, alongside BryceHarper, Mookie Betts, and Mike Trout.
He said that every day is a gamble. I appreciate the Yankees wanting to do that, and I am getting this opportunity. I am not opposed to going to free agency. I will not look at all the negatives. Everything else will take care of itself if I focus on what I need to do on the field.
At the end of the year, I will talk to 30 teams and the Yankees will be one of them. Trying to wrap something up sooner is always nice. We weren't able to get it done and it's on to baseball.
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