Judge giving Soto space in free agency: 'I haven't talked to him'

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge isn't discussing free agency with former teammate Juan Soto.

"I think the best thing is to really give those guys space," Judge said Friday when asked if he had spoken to Soto about his future, according to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. "I talked to him all season, and he knows how we feel about him. I think the most important thing is to now let him do his thing with his family, pray about it, talk with people, and come to the right decision for him and his family.

"So, I haven't talked to him at all. I thought I'd talk to him maybe yesterday during the announcement or interviews, but he wasn't there. I'll see him down the road."

Judge, who won his second AL MVP in three years Thursday, also said he doesn't care about whether Soto surpasses the nine-year, $360-million contract the Yankees captain signed in December 2022 after testing the open market.

"Honestly, it ain't my money," Judge added. "I really don't care as long as we get the best players. … That's never been something on my mind, who gets paid the most. Whatever we can do to get the best players, I'll take it."

The 32-year-old acknowledged that he did talk to Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner about Soto and other topics that could benefit the team moving forward, according to Phillips.

New York's front office had a "good meeting" with Soto on Monday, and club executives were "encouraged" about the possibility of bringing back the 26-year-old superstar.

The 2024 AL MVP finalist has also met with the New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox, and Los Angeles Dodgers.