ESPN's Buster Olney predicts Aaron Judge will leave Yankees after 2022 season

The New York Yankees and All-Star slugger Aaron Judge sidestepped a potential headache earlier on Friday when they came to an agreement to avoid going to arbitration. Judge is now essentially on a one-year, $19 million contract that can earn him an additional $250,000 if he wins American League Most Valuable Player honors and an extra $250,000 if he's named World Series MVP. 

That, as the saying goes, is only the beginning. 

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman sparked some controversy when he told reporters in April that Judge's camp  declined a seven-year, $213.5 million extension that would've begun next season after Judge made $17 million for the current campaign. There were later rumblings Judge was upset Cashman told the media about that offer, and the 30-year-old has since gone on to lead all of MLB with 27 home runs. Judge is also slashing .304/.379/.658 with 53 RBI and a 1.037 OPS. 

Judge can hit free agency following the season, and ESPN's Buster Olney suggested the three-time All-Star won't call the Bronx home by this time next year. 

"I think the contract that he gets in the upcoming offseason in free agency is going to start with the number three," Olney explained, per Tim Kelly of Audacy Sports. "Look, he and the Yankees were not close in the negotiations that broke apart in early April. The Yankees were talking about paying him annually more than players like Mookie Betts ... Giancarlo Stanton ... Bryce Harper. Judge's camp was looking for a deal in the Mike Trout level, about $36 million [per year]. And the old saying in baseball is 'All it takes is one inspired owner.' And I think some owner is gonna step up, look at Aaron Judge as being one of the biggest names in the sport and one of the biggest names in professional sports, and say, 'You know what, I'm going to pay that guy.'"

Olney added he does not "think" Judge will be with the Yankees next season. For a piece published Wednesday, Olney linked Judge with seven potential suitors: the New York Mets, San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels and Minnesota Twins.