New York Yankees star slugger Aaron Judge will soon receive an offer for a long-term contract, team general manager Brian Cashman said Saturday.
“Between now and opening day we’ll make an offer and he’ll obviously get an offer and all the talks will have been in place and resolved into a multi-year deal or not,” Cashman said.
“We are engaged. We will make an offer and hear what he has to say in response to it and then we will sign before opening day,” he said.
The Yankees open the season on April 7 at home against the Boston Red Sox.
Judge has said he doesn’t want to negotiate an extension during the regular season. The outfielder, who turns 30 next month, could become a free agent after the World Series.
The Yankees and Judge have not reached an agreement for 2022, which could result in both sides going to arbitration during the season. The player asked for a raise from the current $10.175 million to $21 million, and the Yankees offered $17 million.
“Our position has always been that we only end up in a hearing if they drag us into it,” Cashman said. “We only go when we have to. We are not afraid to go. Our history shows that we stay out of that realm unless we are forced to go. We will see how it all unfolds,” he added.
Judge had a .287 batting average with 39 homers and 98 RBIs in 148 games last season.
On the other hand, Cashman has been in contact on a few occasions since spring training began with the agent of outfielder Brett Gardner, who is a free agent after playing with the Yankees from 2008 to 2021.
“Honestly, right now we’re focused on what we have,” Cashman said.
Gardner, 38, had a .222 batting average with a .327 on-base percentage in 140 games last season.