Hal Steinbrenner: Payroll won't stop Yankees from re-signing Aaron Judge

New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner is assuring fans he'd doing just about anything he can to re-sign All-Star Aaron Judge. 

"We know where we’re at," Steinbrenner said Tuesday about the Yankees' overall payroll as it pertains to Judge's future while speaking at the owners' meetings in midtown Manhattan, per Dan Martin of the New York Post. "I can tell you, that’s not gonna stop us." 

Judge rejected a seven-year, $213.5M contract extension offer from the Yankees before the season and is a free agent eligible to sign with any team. 

Steinbrenner confirmed in a recent interview he and Judge had engaged in "very positive conversations" following the campaign and said on Tuesday he and the 30-year-old had one face-to-face talk at some point after the Yankees were swept by the Houston Astros in the American League Championship Series last month. 

Additionally, Steinbrenner said he told Judge the Yankees can pay the presumed 2022 AL Most Valuable Player "and still have money to make other things happen, too" but that such discussions depend on the full figure Judge has in mind regarding his contract. 

"Clearly, I’m not gonna be in a position — I can’t be in a position — to see players start to come off the board [in free agency] and trades start to be made [without a deal for Judge], and he understands that," Steinbrenner added about the free-agency process. "We broached the subject a bit. Both sides are really gonna work at this and do what we can to make it happen." 

Steinbrenner made his comments the same day reports emerged claiming the Yankees are re-signing slugger Anthony Rizzo to a multi-year deal that includes a club option for 2025. 

It's been noted that Rizzo and Judge became close during their time together as teammates which began in the summer of 2021. 

Before Tuesday's developments, Steinbrenner let it be known the Yankees could name Judge captain if the four-time All-Star selection remains with the club.