Inside The Pinstripes

Aaron Judge Lands in San Francisco For Free Agency Meeting With Giants

The Giants could pry Judge away from the Yankees in free agency this offseason.

Max Goodman

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Aaron Judge is heading home for more than just the holidays.

The free agent right fielder is back on a business trip. 

Judge has arrived in San Francisco—less than 100 miles from where he grew up in Linden, California—and will meet with the Giants on Tuesday, per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.

Jon Morosi of MLB Network shared a video on Monday night where Judge was stopped while he carried some luggage into the lobby of a hotel.

"Visiting some family and friends, that's about it," Judge said, explaining why he is in town.

Asked if he has any fun plans, the slugger smiled. 

"We've got something."

The Giants are viewed by many as the biggest threat to the Yankees in the Judge sweepstakes this winter. Randy Miller of NJ Advance Media reported back in October that San Francisco is "prepared to spend whatever it takes" to sign Judge.

Judge is coming off a record-setting campaign in pinstripes, a season in which the slugger mashed 62 home runs (the new single-season record in the American League), led baseball in plenty of offensive statistics and won his first Most Valuable Player Award. The right fielder also put the Yankees on his back throughout the highs and lows of a 99-win season, helping to take New York to the American League Championship Series where they fell to the Astros in four games.

Before Opening Day, Judge turned down a $213.5 million extension for seven years from New York. By betting on himself, he's poised to make much more, possibly setting a new record for the most average annual value for a position player in MLB history. 

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman recently revealed to reporters that the team has presented Judge with a new offer since the end of the season. Owner Hal Steinbrenner added that he has had multiple "positive" meetings with Judge to make it clear the Yankees want to keep their superstar slugger in pinstripes. Steinbrenner said he would even consider making Judge captain if No. 99 re-signed this winter, insisting that he's prepared to spend to make that happen.

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Max Goodman
MAX GOODMAN

Max Goodman covers the New York Yankees for Sports Illustrated and FanNation. Goodman has been on the Yankees beat for three seasons. He is also the publisher of Sports Illustrated and FanNation's Jets site, Jets Country. Before starting Inside The Pinstripes, Goodman attended Northwestern University and the Medill School of Journalism. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism and Master’s Degree in Sports Media, graduating in 2019. At school, Goodman was an anchor and reporter with NNN SportsNight and played on the club baseball team. While at Northwestern, Goodman interned with MLB.com as an associate reporter covering the Miami Marlins. He also interned with ESPN, working as an associate reporter on Mike Greenberg's Get Up. Goodman is from New York City. He grew up in Hell's Kitchen. Follow Goodman on Twitter @MaxTGoodman. You can connect with him via email by reaching out at maxgoodmansports@gmail.com.

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