Jon Heyman of The New York Post and MLB Network believes that New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge should be the highest-paid position player in MLB.
The New York Yankees have been the best team in baseball in the first one-third of the season, as they are 40-15, which is good enough for a 3.5-game lead over any other MLB team. The best player on the best team has been Aaron Judge, who has been the best hitter in the sport.
Entering Wednesday, Judge was hitting .315/.385/.685 with an OPS+ of 204 (or 104 percent better than league average). Both that .685 slugging percentage and OPS+ are the best in baseball.
As a result, Jon Heyman of The New York Post believes that Aaron Judge, who will be a free agent after this season, should be the highest-paid position player in 2023.
Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge could be the highest-paid position player in 2023
Currently, Los Angeles Angels outfielder and three-time AL MVP Mike Trout is the highest-paid position player in baseball, as he is making $37,166,666 in 2022 but New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge could achieve the feat next season. MLB insider Jon Heyman believes that Judge is “better” than Trout and the numbers back up his claim in 2022.
Before the season started, Judge asked for a contract that would have paid as much or more than Trout … and the Yankees balked at that. They offered him $30.5 million per year for seven years, or $213.5 million
Heyman also says that the Yankees should give him an eight-year deal or so. If the Yankees give him $38 million per year, that would be a $304 million contract.
If the Yankees (or some other team) sign him for that after he reaches free agency, it would only be the fifth $300+ million free-agent contract in MLB history. It would be the shortest in length, though, as the previous four contracts were between 10 and 13 years in length.
As long as Judge can continue performing at this level and stay healthy, Judge truly is the best position player in baseball and should be the highest-paid position player.