Aaron Judge admits winter talks with Giants a 'dream come true'
Before New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge broke San Francisco Giants hearts with his bat on Thursday, he did so with his words.
"I met a lot of great people with the Giants, it’s a great organization that I’ve followed since I was a kid," Judge said ahead of New York's 5-0 Opening Day win over San Francisco.
Judge was referencing the free agent talks he with the Giants in the winter. Per Max Goodman of NJ Advance Media, writing for NJ.com, the slugger said, "It was kind of a dream come true getting a chance to speak with them and get an opportunity to go there" before adding that "in the end, it just worked out for me to come back to the Yankees and I’m happy with my decision."
As for that bat, Judge homered in an Opening Day win over those Giants, in what was his first official at-bat as the 16th captain of the Yankees. He later added an RBI single in the shutout victory.
Judge had repeatedly been linked in rumors and stories with the Giants even before the conclusion of the 2022 World Series and grew up a fan of the club as a native of Linden, California. His meeting with San Francisco representatives reportedly went well, but the reigning American League Most Valuable Player ultimately re-signed with the Yankees via a nine-year, $360M contract.
It's ironic the Giants began the season in the Bronx, as Judge at least temporarily had to think about possibly being introduced as a San Francisco player at Yankee Stadium on Opening Day. He revealed before the first pitch of Thursday's contest that that scenario somewhat "become a reality" in his mind during free agency.
"But now going through spring training here, being back in New York, this is where I belong," Judge added.
Earlier in the week, Giants Opening Day starting pitcher Logan Webb admitted his club failing to sign Judge "sucked." Considering Webb's second offering to Judge sailed over the center field wall, one would imagine the right-hander's teammates agree with that take heading into the weekend.
"I told him yesterday, especially with the Giants being in town, one of my lowest, darkest places this winter was when I thought maybe it was in jeopardy that he was coming back," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said about a discussion he had with Judge. "Picturing him on that third-base line in a Giants uniform on Opening Day. That was not a good thought or picture."
Yankees fans likely will never again have to imagine Judge wearing another team's uniform during at least the prime of his playing career.
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