Surrounded by a large group that included the Yankees' owner, general manager, manager and even Derek Jeter, Aaron Judge pulled the pinstripes back on Wednesday morning at Yankee Stadium. The moment officially brought to an end what will be Judge's first and last experience with free agency, one that was the talk of baseball for much of the season and the first month of the offseason.
The moment was particularly poor-timed for the Giants, who sought Judge and then pivoted to Carlos Correa, only to watch him also go to New York after a disagreement over a physical he took in San Francisco on Monday. The Giants were left empty-handed, and as the reigning AL MVP answered questions from reporters in New York, Judge did not sound like someone who was ever going to fix their problem.
Judge described free agency as "different" and "valuable," but he said multiple times that the process made it clear that he needed to stay with the Yankees. He ultimately agreed to a nine-year, $360 million contract to return.
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SIGN UP HERE "In my heart, I knew where I wanted to be," Judge said. "But I think going through this process was a valuable lesson and just a valuable tool to go through and just (to) see what other organizations are about. I feel like maybe I might have kicked myself if I didn't go through the process once we got here. I think going through it kind of helped me eventually come to a better answer and a clearer answer, which is, I belong in New York.
"It was a tough situation going through free agency and talking to other teams voicing their opinion and hearing what they've got to say, but ultimately it just gave me a clearer answer that I belong here in pinstripes and need to finish my career in New York."
The Giants offered Judge just about the same deal, but he reached agreement with the Yankees after a late-night conversation with owner Hal Steinbrenner, who said Wednesday that he told Judge at the outset of free agency that he didn't consider him a free agent, but rather a Yankee.
That ended up being the case, although Judge certainly took his time and squeezed every last dollar out of his old and future bosses. He said everyone he talked to during the process told him to go with his heart, and after a conversation with his wife, Samantha, he felt New York was where he belonged.
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The Yankees announced during the press conference that Judge will be their 16th captain and first since Jeter. Later in the day, they announced a six-year deal with former Giant Carlos Rodón.
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Judge said he spoke to Steinbrenner about doing a better job of chasing championships and got assurances that the Yankees would continue to add. They did that with the Rodón addition.
"That guy is a bulldog," Judge said. "And I think he's going to fit right into this New York mentality of being a winner. He oozes that confidence and I'm excited to share a clubhouse with him."