Judge giving Soto space amid free agency frenzy

NEW YORK — Aaron Judge is one of the few people on Earth who can relate to Juan Soto‘s current situation. Two years ago, Judge was the free agent superstar clubs across the majors coveted. Eventually, he chose to return to the New York Yankees. Now it’s Soto’s turn.

In a conference call with reporters Friday, after unanimously winning the American League MVP award Thursday night, Judge said he hopes Soto makes the same choice and returns to the Bronx. Judge is not, however, actively recruiting his All-Star teammate.

“I haven’t talked to him at all. I think the best thing is to really give those guys space,” Judge said. “And I talked to him all season. He knows how we feel about him. And I think 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. So I haven’t talked to him at all.”

Soto met with Yankees officials, a group that included owner Hal Streinbrenner, general manager Brian Cashman and manager Aaron Boone, in California on Monday. Two days later, Steinbrenner called it “a good meeting” with “very honest back-and-forth dialogue.” Soto has also met with the New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays.

While Judge said he hasn’t spoken with Soto, he disclosed that he has met with Steinbrenner to discuss Soto and other possible offseason moves.

“I went down to Tampa for about a week kind of right after the season and met with him and just discussed a lot of things,” Judge said. “From Juan to other guys that are out there that I think could definitely help this team. So, you know, I kind of just give my input on a couple of things.”

Judge partnered with Soto to become one of the most productive duos in recent baseball history. While Judge recorded arguably the greatest season by a right-handed hitter ever, Soto clubbed a career-high 41 home runs with a .989 OPS. His 8.1 fWAR ranked fourth in the majors.

That production helped the Yankees win 94 games and the American League East title after missing the postseason in 2023. He then shined in October, batting .327 with four home runs and a 1.102 OPS in 14 postseason games. His go-ahead three-run home run in Game 5 of the AL Championship Series sent the Yankees to the World Series. Six days later, the Yankees played Game 1 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Soto’s 26th birthday.

It was a platform year impending free agents dream of. And it drove Soto’s price — already projected to be historic coming off his age-25 season — to another bracket. With several big-market teams interested, Soto could command a contract approaching, if not surpassing, $600 million. He will surely sign a contract larger than the nine-year, $360 million deal Judge and the Yankees landed on two years ago. Judge said that doesn’t matter to him.

“It ain’t my money,” Judge said. “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.”

Losing Soto after one season was a risk the Yankees assumed when they decided to trade five players to the San Diego Padres for Soto and outfielder Trent Grisham last December to give Judge the ideal complement — an elite, patient, left-handed hitter who posts every day. He performed as advertised — and then some — in helping the Yankees reach the World Series for the first time in 15 years and becoming a fan favorite, which would make his possible defection a tougher blow before the season started.

Soto hit second in the Yankees order, one spot ahead of Judge. All season, Judge marveled at Soto’s at-bats. His approach. His flair. His relentlessness. On Friday, he again credited Soto for directly helping him register his historic season by constantly making pitchers work.

“That was a big impact, having a guy like that in front of you,” Judge said. “If I could have eight Juan Sotos in the lineup with me, I would love that.”

The Yankees would settle for one.