Yankees' Aaron Judge talks being booed, free agency decision

New York Yankees All-Star slugger Aaron Judge has suggested that being booed by home fans in 2022 didn't impact his free-agency decision this past fall. 

"Honestly, I had no problem with getting booed. That’s what happens when you don’t come through," Judge told Bob Klapisch of NJ Advance Media. "It wasn’t the first time I’d been booed in New York, probably not the last, so it didn’t come as a great shock. The fans were disappointed at how the season finished. I would’ve booed too. So, no, I didn’t take it personally. Not at all." 

Judge set a new American League single-season record of 62 home runs last year but nevertheless heard boos when he struggled at the plate during postseason games played at Yankee Stadium in October. It was subsequently reported that a "toxic" fan culture coupled with an alleged "souring relationship between the Yankees and their fans" could result in Judge leaving the Bronx via free agency. 

Most notably, Judge was routinely linked in stories with the San Francisco Giants, as he grew up a fan of the club in Linden, California. The 30-year-old admitted to Klapisch he wanted to make "a business decision" after the World Series but couldn't suppress his true emotions. 

"Once things got started, all the feelings I promised to put aside came right back," Judge explained. "I knew in my heart that I wanted to re-sign with the Yankees, but I decided to listen to the other teams. At least go through with the process. I felt I owed (the Giants) the courtesy of listening, but the bottom line is that I wanted to play for a championship club. No one I was talking to came close to the Yankees in terms of talent." 

Judge ultimately signed a nine-year, $360 million deal to return to the Yankees. The 2022 AL Most Valuable Player did say that "another team...had a higher offer," but he added that "New York is where I wanted to finish my career." 

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported in December that the San Diego Padres were "offering an alternative 10-year, $400 million deal" to Judge. 

There's one important thing the Giants and Padres couldn't give Judge: The opportunity to become the 16th captain in the history of the Yankees.