Yankees principal owner Hal Steinbrenner appears ready to pay to bring Aaron Judge back to the Bronx.
Steinbrenner spoke to the media Tuesday at the owner’s meetings in New York City and was open about his team’s payroll and intimated that money won’t be an issue when they pursue Judge in free agency, at least to a point.
“We know where we’re at,” Steinbrenner said of the Yankees’ payroll. “I can tell you, that’s not gonna stop us. We have plenty of ability to make [a Judge deal] happen and still have money to make other things happen, too.”
Steinbrenner included the caveat, “it depends what the number is, of course” and said that he doesn’t have an “absolute” payroll number in mind for the team’s spending this offseason.
Earlier in the day, the Yankees re-signed Anthony Rizzo to a two-year, $17 million deal with a club option for a third year. Rizzo’s contract is the first move in what should be an important offseason for this current regime.
And while the conversations between the Yankees and Judge continue, New York will look at to make their team better in other ways, just in case. The team is linked to Brandon Nimmo and the top free agent shortstops on the market to try and make their team better.
“Clearly, I’m not gonna be in a position — I can’t be in a position — to see players start to come off the board [in free agency] and trades start to be made [without a deal for Judge], and he understands that,’’ Steinbrenner said. “We broached the subject a bit. Both sides are really gonna work at this and do what we can to make it happen.”
Judge rejected the Yankees’ one-year, $19.65 million qualifying offer Tuesday, but so did Rizzo and the team was able to bring him back. If Judge does sign with another team, the Yankees will be compensated with a draft pick.
Steinbrenner has said on multiple occasions that he’s spoken to the slugger since the season ended, and described them as “positive.” He also said he’d consider making Judge a Yankees captain if he re-signs.
Whether that’s enough for Judge to return to the Bronx is yet to be seen.