Judge coy on future with Yankees: 'I'm a free agent and we'll see what happens'
Aaron Judge may have played his last game with the New York Yankees.
New York's season is over after the Houston Astros swept the Yankees in the American League Championship Series on Sunday, and the AL MVP favorite is set to become a free agent at the conclusion of the World Series.
"I haven't even thought about the next step yet. We got time to figure it out. I've never been in this spot before," Judge said after his team's Game 4 loss, according to YES Network.
Judge, who set the AL single-season record with 62 home runs this season, rejected a seven-year, $213.5-million extension on Opening Day.
"I've been clear about that since I first wore the pinstripes," Judge said when asked if his goal was still to remain with the Yankees. "But we couldn't get something done before spring training. And I'm a free agent, and we'll see what happens."
Regardless of what happens in the offseason, the four-time All-Star is proud of what he's accomplished over his seven-year career with New York.
"Getting a chance to wear the pinstripes and play right field at Yankee Stadium, that's an incredible honor," Judge said. "I definitely didn't take it for granted at any point. I always checked myself pregame when I'd say a little prayer, I'd kind of look around the stadium and kind of pinch myself.
"There's very few individuals who get a chance to run on that field and do that and play in front of the fans."
Teammate Anthony Rizzo believes the 30-year-old's next contract will be massive.
"Whatever he gets is going to be astronomical, and he deserves it," Rizzo said, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. "He bet on himself on the biggest stage, in the biggest market, and did it with ease. He should be rewarded as the highest-paid player in the game. He's the new gold standard, in my opinion."
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