The Aaron Judge to Giants rumors reached a fever pitch last week when Yankees beat writer Randy Miller reported that Judge is fed up with the Yankess organization, and is overwhelmingly likely to head to the Bay.
This week, Giants broadcaster Dave Flemming poured cold water on that report, saying it didn’t pass the smell test.
On Thursday, ESPN’s Jeff Passan basically split the difference.
“We have to understand a few things here” Passan said on KNBR. “Number one, Aaron Judge is a very loyal person, and that loyalty can cut different ways. He’s loyal to the franchise that he plays for but he’s also very loyal to his family. And the notion that they can drive an hour and a half from Linden and watch him play every night has to be extremely appealing to him.
“Number two, the Giants are in a transitional period right now where they have more payroll flexibility then they have had since before Buster Posey, Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford arrived. They’re in the position to move from that three championship era finally, and start a new one. There are but a handful of players I’d rather start a franchise around than Aaron Judge right now. So everything lines up really nicely for that to be the case.”
That said, if Passan had to make a pick, he’s still betting on Judge staying in New York.
“But you’re also going to need a) the Giants to make a strong bid and you also need to know the Yankees are lurking there. The Yankees understand that if Aaron Judge is not in their lineup this year, they might not even be a playoff team. All of these elements together lead me to say that I think Aaron Judge is probably going back to New York, but I say that with no confidence at all, and completely open to the idea that he could be a San Francisco Giant next year and for many, many years beyond.”
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