He even mobilized a chartered plane to recruit a free agent. The San Diego Padres’ will to recruit a free agent for Aaron Judge (31, New York Yankees), the “clean home run king,” was sincere.
On the 10th (hereinafter referred to as Korean time), the American ‘The Athletic’ reported the behind-the-scenes story of Jersey’s FA contract process. Judge, an outfielder who hit the free agency market after hitting 62 home runs in a single season, the most by a hitter unrelated to banned drugs last year, signed a 9-year, $360 million contract with the Yankees. Annual average of 40 million dollars is the best treatment among wild beasts.
But Judge could have gotten a bigger deal than that. Not only his hometown team, the San Francisco Giants, who were strong candidates for recruitment, but also a third team, San Diego, emerged as an ambush, making a huge bet. San Diego’s offer totaled more than $400 million, according to The Athletic. Two other sources hinted that the deal was in the range of $415 million total over at least 12 years.
San Diego offered more, totaling nearly $100 million, than the Yankees originally proposed $320 million over eight years. “San Diego had an offer so important that it baffled everyone else,” Judge recalled. When first-choice shortstop Trey Turner, who was the first choice to recruit free agents, signed a contract with the Philadelphia Phillies for 300 million dollars in 11 years, San Diego quickly contacted the Jersey team and made a huge bet.
I was surprised by the unexpected offer, but the Jersey agency ‘PSI Sports Management’, who confirmed San Diego’s seriousness, informed the fact to Judge himself. It was felt that a face-to-face meeting was necessary to advance the discussion, but there were no direct flights from Tampa, where Judge was staying, to San Diego at the time.
Then the San Diego club paid for the use of a private charter for Judge. Not only Judge and agency officials, but also his wife, Samantha, and their pet dog came to San Diego on a chartered plane, and headed straight to Petco Park, the home stadium. San Diego’s leadership, including owner Peter Seidler, general manager AJ Preller, assistant general manager Josh Stein, and coach Bob Melvin, was all in attendance.
They met secretly for about three hours, and Judge toured the San Diego clubhouse, weight room, and batting cage. But it didn’t lead to a contract right away, and Judge left San Diego that way. “The meeting went well, but the jersey was blown that day,” said Preller, who had a hunch that the contract would not work. 메이저사이트
Later, Judge, who was contacted by Yankees manager Aaron Boone, stated that he wanted to remain with the team, but that the terms of his contract were vastly different. As if he knew that feeling, the owner of the Yankees, Hal Steinbrenner, who was on vacation in Milan, Italy, sent a long message to Judge directly and contacted him, suggesting an increased contract condition. After confirming his sincerity, Judge immediately decided to stay.
After a secret meeting with San Diego, a contract was made with the Yankees. He may feel as if he’s been taken advantage of, but San Diego doesn’t believe it. The meeting with San Diego became known after the contract agreement with the Yankees. More than anything, I felt Judge’s love and sincerity for the Yankees team. “I can do what I really want to do,” said Judge, who chose to pay less to stay with the Yankees. We made the right decision,” he said.