Did Aaron Judge talk about Yankees in past tense after ALCS sweep?

New York Yankees All-Star slugger Aaron Judge addressed his future shortly after the Houston Astros completed their four-game American League Championship Series sweep of the Bronx Bombers late Sunday night. 

Dan Martin of the New York Post couldn't help but notice that Judge spoke about his current employer in the past tense.

"Getting the chance to wear the pinstripes and play right field at Yankee Stadium, that’s an incredible honor that I definitely didn’t take for granted at any point," Judge explained. "Very few individuals get a chance to do that… and play in front of the fans for my whole six years here. It was a special time. I just kick myself for not bringing home that championship."

The 30-year-old rejected a seven-year, $213.5 million extension before the start of the season and remains set to hit free agency following the World Series between the Astros and Philadelphia Phillies that gets underway Friday. Judge has repeatedly been linked with the New York Mets because of big-spending Mets owner Steve Cohen and with the San Francisco Giants due to the fact that he grew up less than 100 miles from where the Giants play home games, per Mark Feinsand of the MLB website. 

After what may have been his final at-bats with the Yankees, Judge repeated previous comments and insisted he'd like to stay put. 

"I’ve been clear about that since I first wore the pinstripes," Judge responded when asked if he wishes to put pen to paper on a deal with the Yankees. "But we couldn’t get something done before spring training and now I’m a free agent and we’ll see what happens." 

Judge set a new AL single-season record of 62 home runs and is widely believed to be the league's uncrowned Most Valuable Player for the campaign. It's thought he could earn up to $375 million over 10 years via his next contract. 

"Whatever he’s gonna get will be astronomical and he deserves it," current teammate Anthony Rizzo said of Judge. "I hope it’s in a Yankee uniform for him and for the game [and] for baseball in general."

It's unclear if the Yankees will essentially offer Judge a blank check or allow themselves to be outbid for his services.