New York, United States | Aaron Judge agreed to a major league record nine-year contract worth $360 million on Wednesday to return to the New York Yankees.
The 30-year-old American free agent outfielder, who hit an American League record 62 home runs last season, had turned down a $213.5 million, seven-year offer from the Yankees before the 2022 season.
His new deal, according to ESPN and the MLB website, as well as various New York news outlets, means Judge made $150 million betting on himself on the 2022 campaign, when he led the MLB in home runs, runs scored with 133 and runs batted in with 131.
Judge, who hit .311, was named the 2022 AL MVP.
Averaging $40 million per season, Judge’s contract is the richest in MLB history for any non-pitcher, $4 million more per season than Mike Trout’s (Angels) 12-year deal.
The only major league players with richer annual contracts are pitchers Max Scherzer ($43 million) and Justin Verlander ($43 million).
The San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres of the National League were also pitching offers to Judge, according to reports.
In the 2022 season, Judge chased the American League single-season record of 61 home runs held by Roger Maris, who also did it with the Yankees in 1961.
The drama of his late-season quest stretched until Oct. 4, when he hit his 62nd homer against the Texas Rangers.
Judge, the 2017 AL Rookie of the Year, led the Yankees to 99 wins in the 2022 season and their sixth straight playoff appearance since his arrival.
The New York Ninth was swept this year by the eventual World Series champion Houston Astros in the ALCS.
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