Yankees News: Aaron Judge updates, Carlos Correa rumors, Don Mattingly

Here come the Winter Meetings. The annual event begins on Sunday and runs through Wednesday, which will more than likely result in a ton of free agency/trade market movement. The New York Yankees and Brian Cashman have their work cut out for them, and it starts with Aaron Judge.

Speaking of the most coveted free agent out there, Jeff Passan reported this week that the slugger was given an eight-year, $300 million offer from the Yankees before he began his official “free agency tour,” which seemingly began and ended with the San Francisco Giants. We’ve heard nothing since that reported visit ahead of Thanksgiving weekend.

This would seem to indicate Judge earned himself an extra $86.5 million with his historic 2022 season (the Yankees’ last offer was seven years for $213.5 million). With this current $300 million offer, Judge would be the highest-paid position player in MLB history on an AAV basis at $37.5 million.

Could the Giants go a bit further than that? Sure. Will they? Don’t know. Will the Yankees match if San Fran goes another year or another $20-$30 million? You’d have to think so. But we’ll know more as this back-and-forth plays out at the Winter Meetings, in the event another team or two gets involved.

Judge won’t be the only focus of the Yankees, though. They need pitching, outfield and depth help. Once both markets materialize, expect Cashman to strike quickly.

More New York Yankees news ahead of Winter Meetings

• Don Mattingly signed a deal with the Toronto Blue Jays to become their new bench coach after rumors briefly circulated about the possibility of him joining the YES broadcast booth (which was never going to happen). Don’s in the division now, but not where Yankees fans want him to be.
• ESPN ran an article on Wednesday surveying MLB executives about this class of free agents. For some reason, a majority believed the Yankees would sign Carlos Correa (4), followed by the Twins (3), Giants (3), Cubs (1) and Red Sox (1). One voted for the Yankees to sign Xander Bogaerts. Could be cool. Better news? The Yankees won the “Who Will Sign Aaron Judge?” question with six voting yes compared to three for the Dodgers and two (!!) for the Giants.

MLB News

• The Philadelphia Phillies are reportedly the favorites to land Trea Turner, which would deliver a big blow to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
• The New York Mets have reportedly met with star pitcher Carlos Rodón, who many Yankees fans were hoping their team would sign. Probably not going to happen if Steve Cohen is getting involved.
• Xander Bogaerts has a growing market, per the latest buzz, and insider Peter Gammons claims he has “severed ties” with the Red Sox. The veracity of that statement is unclear, but the more teams that get involved here, the worse it is for Boston.
• The Rays have reportedly “checked in” on Jacob deGrom. Probably the most unhinged report you’ll see/hear all offseason.
• The Dodgers signed former Yankee Shelby Miller on Tuesday night. Miller was with the Yankees until June 1 of this past season before he was cut loose.
• The Astros are now reportedly considering Andrew Benintendi, Cody Bellinger and Willson Contreras after paying Jose Abreu $60 million over three years. Screw this team until the end of time.