According to one MLB reporter, free agent outfielder Aaron Judge turned down an offer from the Los Angeles Dodgers.
There have been a few free agency signings so far this offseason, but the big domino that has yet to fall is outfielder Aaron Judge. The New York Yankees star is coming off a historic season, setting the single-season American League home run record, and won the AL MVP award. Now, he is set to cash in on a gigantic contract, and it will be up to him who he chooses to sign with.
According to MLB reporter Ramon D. Carmona, the Los Angeles Dodgers offered Judge a $214 million contract this week, which he and his agent turned down.
Aaron Judge rumored to have turned down offer from Dodgers
While fans may throw up their arms after looking at the $214 million, citing that it is only $500,000 more than what the Yankees offered him in their seven-year proposal prior to Opening Day, it’s important to note that there were no terms listed in the tweet. It’s unknown if the Dodgers, if true, offered a long-term deal, or if it was shorter in term (i.e. 4-6 years).
The Dodgers do have a need at the outfield position after they non-tendered Cody Bellinger, the former 2019 NL MVP. With this decision, MLB insiders like Jon Heyman of the New York Post and Jon Morosi of MLB Network said that it’s now possible for the Dodgers to make a run at Judge now that they got near $100 million off the books based on their offseason departures.
Los Angeles has shown that they will always be targeting the top players, whether that’s in free agency or the trading block. In 2021, they traded for starting pitcher Max Scherzer and Trea Turner in a deal with the Washington Nationals. Last offseason, they signed former Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman.
You can never count out the Dodgers when it comes to the top names available. But when it comes to Judge, they will have some stiff competition.