Yankees star Juan Soto's Aaron Judge relationship could be key to free agency as Mets loom
06/26/2024 11:58 AM
With winning a World Series at the front of their minds, the New York Yankees traded for Juan Soto knowing there was no guarantee he would re-sign. But if Soto were to re-up with the Yankees, Aaron Judge would play a major role in the reunion.
Before games, Soto and Judge oftentimes sit together and strategize their plan of attack against the opposing pitcher. The former says that the warm welcome he received helped make him feel more comfortable with the Yankees, via Brendan Kuty and Chris Kirschner of The Athletic.
“He definitely tries to help me out,” Soto said of Judge. “He’s a guy you can talk to and have fun throughout the game. It’s been fun so far. It’s been great for us.”
“He started talking with me to let me know how happy they are,” Soto said of Judge and New York’s reaction to his initial trade. “That’s one thing that shows you who he is. We got him, Gerrit Cole and all those guys texting me. That really shows me they care about me.”
In turn, Judge has loved having Soto around in the clubhouse. He doesn’t mind having to share a bit of his star power as long as it makes the Yankees successful.
“I like having fun with him too, especially here with the fans that love him so much,” Judge said. “He always kind of nods and then gives them a wave. But there are certain times where he’s 2-for-3 with two homers and the fans don’t stop talking. I’m like, ‘Keep waving at them. They love you. Keep having fun. It’s just a treat and I really enjoy it.”
Alongside their comradery, their offensive outputs make them perfect compliments in the lineup. Soto said that pitchers have had to pitch around him less with the former MVP lurking. In turn, Judge said that approach has allowed him to get a better understanding of the pitcher he is about to face.
Clearly the combo has been working, as the Yankees lead the AL East with their 52-29 record. While Arron Judge doesn’t know what Soto’s future holds, he’s hoping he stays in New York for the long haul.
“It’s just impressive how consistent he is on a daily basis, how his attitude never changes. When he’s going well and when he’s not going well. The guy’s a competitor,” Judge said. “We’re always out in the outfield talking about different plays, talking about scenarios in the different pitching stuff going on.”
“The guy’s just a student of the game, Judge continued. “It’s been intriguing to watch him and learn from him and I get a front-row seat to it everyday.”
Mets playing spoiler in Yankees’ Juan Soto pursuit
While the Yankees are interested in retaining Soto, the Mets are trying to bring him across town. Owner Steven Cohen has proven he is willing to spend. Now the current Yankees slugger has become the apple of Cohen’s eye.
The Mets are said to be one of the strongest suitors to steal Soto away from the Yankees, via Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Nothing is set in stone in terms of the Mets’ intentions, but Cohen certainly has the checkbook to make a deal work.
“No one should be surprised if the Mets made a play,” Heyman wrote. “While two winters ago Cohen politely passed on the great and homegrown Judge, the Mets were coming off a 101-win season then (while the Mets are trending up at the moment, things obviously have changed).
The way Soto speaks about the Yankees makes it seem like it’ll take quite the offer to get him on the Mets. But if the latter want to be true playoff contenders again, adding a talent like Soto would definitely do the trick. Over his first 78 games in New York, Soto is hitting .305 with 19 home runs and 57 RBI.
If the Mets are serious about acquiring Juan Soto, Cohen will have to roll out the red carpet. The Yankees already have an ace up their sleeve in Judge and are hoping the bond they build in 2024 will convince Soto to re-sign.
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