Judge: Would be 'ideal' if Yankees extended me before season

Aaron Judge wants to sign a contract extension with the New York Yankees and would like to get it done before the regular season begins.

"I think if we're able to talk and get something done in spring training before the season starts that would be ideal," Judge told reporters, including Newsday's Erik Boland.

"I don't want contract talks or extensions or all that stuff to be a distraction throughout the year, so if we're able to agree to something here in spring before we head up to New York ... I'd be honored and blessed. If not, then we'll talk after the season."

The slugger said the Yankees haven't had extension talks with him this spring, but mentioned he'd like to spend his entire career with the organization, according to The Athletic's Lindsey Adler.

The 29-year-old is a free agent at the end of the 2022 campaign and will be one of the best players available next offseason should he get there.

Judge owns a .276/.386/.554 slash line with 158 home runs and 366 RBIs in six seasons with the Yankees. He won the American League Rookie of the Year in 2017 and has made three All-Star Game appearances.