Aaron Judge Offers Confession on Yankees Future Amid Latest MVP Chase

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jake Elman | Last updated Jul 18, 2025 10:43 AM ET

Only months after turning 33, New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge is already thinking about retirement.

Don’t worry, Yankees fans: Judge doesn’t plan on hanging up his cleats just yet. He’s only three seasons into the nine-year, $360 million contract he signed following his 2022 MVP season, and he still wants to bring a championship back to the Bronx.

However, Judge knows he won’t be around forever. There’ll come a time when Yankees games lack No. 99 and his 350 homers (and counting) — though if Judge gets his way, retirement won’t be anytime soon.

The Athletic recently asked Judge if he plans to play into his 40s, which is a fair question considering his contract ends following his age-39 season.

“That’s the plan,” the three-time MVP replied.

“When I signed this deal,” Judge continued, “one of the things I promised was that I wanted to come in and be a contributor all the way to the end of that contract. So hopefully we’ll continue that.”

Judge entered the All-Star Break leading the majors in batting average (.355), hits (125), walks (69), on-base percentage (.462), and slugging percentage (.733). Naturally, that means he also leads the sport in OPS (1.194), and no one is even close to Judge’s 7.1 bWAR.

Judge already has 35 homers, trailing only Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh’s 38 for the MLB lead.

“He’s not normal,” Yankees hitting coach James Rowson told The Athletic.

“Nothing he does is normal,” Rowson added. “So, I would never bet against him, and I would count on him to do more than anyone has done before him.”

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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