Mike Francesa: Yankees kept Aaron Judge via 'bad contract'

Sports radio legend Mike Francesa has delivered some harsh takes about the New York Yankees re-signing Aaron Judge. 

"It’s an extreme contract," Francesa said about the situation on his latest BetRivers podcast, as shared by James Kratch of Elite Sports NY. "It’s a bad contract. The Yankees will pay dearly on this contract in years seven, eight, nine. I don’t think there’s any question about that. He will not be the same player, because nobody is. You don’t know how gracefully he’s going to age, how productively he’s going to age. The bottom line is he’s had injury problems and he’s going to be 31 in late April. There is no question that at nine years, $360 million, the Yankees went way past where they wanted to go." 

Judge rejected New York's seven-year, $213.5 million extension offer before Opening Day and had repeatedly been linked in rumors with a return to the Yankees and with joining the San Francisco Giants before it was reported Wednesday morning he also considered signing with the San Diego Padres. The reigning American League Most Valuable Player ultimately agreed to remain with the Bronx Bombers via a nine-year deal worth $360 million. 

Francesa added the Yankees now "have work to do" as it pertains to "building a winning team" after Judge and company were swept out of this year's AL Championship Series by the Houston Astros. For a piece published Thursday, ESPN's David Schoenfield wrote that New York should target free agent pitcher Kodai Senga, Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds, and at least one reliever such as former Yankee David Robertson. 

"If you’re a Yankee fan today, I know you are happy," Francesa remarked. "Some of you are overjoyed. You won’t be overjoyed with this contract six or seven years from now. But that doesn’t matter. There are going to be plenty of home runs, plenty of great moments from Judge before that. No one can discount that. But there has to be big postseason moments. And those have been few and far between. That’s what has to change." 

Judge has thus far appeared in 44 career playoff games and hit just .211 with 13 home runs and 66 strikeouts over those outings. He was booed by home crowds over his struggles at the plate during a postseason series against the Cleveland Guardians in October, but that didn't stop him from committing his long-term future to the Yankees ahead of Christmas Day.