Yankees, Aaron Judge reach $19M settlement for 2022

New York Yankees center fielder Aaron Judge avoided arbitration. Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Yankees, Aaron Judge reach $19 million settlement for 2022 season

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 6/24/22

Friday was deadline day for the New York Yankees and probable first-half AL MVP Aaron Judge. The 30-year-old outfielder entered the day fresh off of another night of heroics in the Bronx and in negotiations with his career-long employer over his salary for the rest of the 2022 campaign.

After an initial report that Judge's side declined the Yankees' offer of $19 million, the two eventually came to an agreement to avoid going to arbitration.

No hearing for Yankees and Judge. Very positive development. https://t.co/pJShv8yVIN
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) June 24, 2022

Judge is eligible to haul in some additional dough depending on how the rest of the year goes for both him and the team as a whole.

Judge can earn $250,000 for 1st place MVP and $250,000 for World Series MVP.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) June 24, 2022

The three-time All-Star and former AL Rookie of the Year looks like the favorite for AL MVP. Judge currently paces the junior circuit in home runs (27), runs scored (58) and total bases (171). Many baseball fans and Yankees die-hards alike have speculated recently whether or not Judge will break the franchise's single-season record for long balls (61), set by Roger Maris in 1961.

On top of the power numbers, Judge has also posted an elite .304/.379.658 slash line and has led New York to the best record in baseball thus far. The Bronx Bombers enter Friday night with a mark of 52-18.

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