Yankees, Aaron Judge agree to one-year deal worth $10.175 million

New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge has millions of reasons to feel excited about beginning preparations for the 2021 MLB season. 

ESPN reported on Friday afternoon that the Yankees and Judge avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year deal worth $10.175 million. The news came hours after stories surfaced that the Bronx Bombers are finalizing a lucrative deal to re-sign free-agent second baseman D.J. LeMahieu. 

When healthy and at his best, Judge has performed like an MVP candidate capable of carrying the Yankees through a deep postseason journey. However, the two-time All-Star has missed considerable time the past several years because of injuries, and he completed multiple stints on the injured list last summer due to a right calf strain. 

In 2020, Judge hit .257 with nine home runs, 22 RBI and an .891 OPS across 28 regular-season games and 101 at-bats. As noted by Spotrac, the Yankees control Judge's rights through the end of the 2022 season. 

2021 could be the defining year for the relationship between Judge and the Yankees, as the 28-year-old must prove that he can remain in the lineup and avoid lengthy spells on the IL that stall his momentum and leave the club missing his power for weeks at a time.