Aaron Judge Reacts to Juan Soto’s Move to the Mets
Feb 17, 2025, 03:38 PM ET
TAMPA, Fla. — The baseball world was abuzz when Juan Soto made the bold decision to sign with the New York Mets, leaving behind a competitive offer from the Yankees. While many were surprised, one person who wasn’t was Aaron Judge. However, Judge did have a different take on which team is better positioned for future championships.
Soto’s choice to ink a 15-year, $765 million deal with the Mets was driven by his belief that the Mets offered the best chance to win over the next decade and a half. Judge, however, sees things differently. “That’s his opinion. He can say what he wants. I definitely disagree with him,” Judge commented. “He’s going to be in a great spot. It’s going to be great having him in the town. We’re going to be battling back and forth for quite a few years.”
Reflecting on their time together, Judge, who hit third behind Soto last year, described Soto as “one of a kind” and “a special player.” The two had a strong on-field connection, but communication was briefly interrupted when Soto changed his phone number, leaving Judge unable to reach him until after the decision was made.
“I wasn’t too surprised by it. I think that’s where he wanted to be. I think that’s where is best for him and his family,” Judge said. “He got a pretty nice deal over there. I mean, you can’t say no to that. But I’m happy for you.”
Judge, who will turn 33 on April 26, is coming off a stellar season where he won his second AL MVP award in three years. He led the major leagues with 58 homers, 144 RBIs, and 133 walks, hitting .322 as the Yankees reached the World Series for the first time since 2009. Unfortunately, they fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games.
“Getting to the dance and then losing out on it definitely is a lot worse than not even getting in,” Judge reflected. “So guys are motivated. Guys are ready to go.”
In a pivotal moment during World Series Game 5, Judge dropped Tommy Edman‘s routine fly to center, marking his first error of the year. This misstep contributed to the Yankees blowing a 5-0 lead and ultimately being eliminated with a 7-6 loss. Dodgers pitcher Joe Kelly remarked that his team had anticipated defensive mistakes by the Yankees.
“We heard that, but there’s nothing you can do besides you have to beat them,” Judge said. “They won. They can say whatever they want. So if you don’t like it, you got to play better.”
Looking ahead, Judge is likely to shift primarily to right field following the acquisition of Cody Bellinger in an offseason trade with the Chicago Cubs. Last year, Judge was mostly stationed in center field.
Off the field, Judge is embracing a new role as a father. Last month, he welcomed his daughter, Nora Rose, into the world, which he says adds extra motivation to his game. “Having the chance to have her grow up and watch me do what I love, if there’s any way I can inspire her through playing this game to do something special, that’s going to be pretty cool,” the Yankees captain shared.
Judge is aware of the passage of time and the need to maintain his performance. “I’m getting older,” he acknowledged. “I don’t want to be the old man here in a couple of years, so I got to stay on top of my game. So she’s definitely going to motivate me, definitely keep me on my toes. and it’s going to be a fun couple of years, that’s for sure.”
- Judge’s MVP stats: 58 homers, 144 RBIs, 133 walks
- Soto’s contract: 15 years, $765 million
- Yankees’ World Series appearance: First since 2009
Originally Written by: ESPN.com
