Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner reportedly more willing to 'chase' Aaron Judge than Brian Cashman

It appears New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner, and not general manager Brian Cashman, may be leading the charge to re-sign Aaron Judge this fall. 

"There are some within the Yankees organization who think Steinbrenner is willing to chase Judge in a way Cashman is not," ESPN's Buster Olney explained for a piece published on Friday. "Hal is constantly compared to his father, George Steinbrenner, whose impetuous and sometimes reckless aggressiveness drove the Yankees to championships in the 1970s, to the basement of the standings in the '80s and, after being banned from baseball for a time, to a dynasty in the '90s. Hal Steinbrenner was booed at Yankee Stadium last summer -- as his father was, at times -- and as one industry acquaintance said, 'He hears that, and it's gotta hurt.'

"Steinbrenner has become personally invested in the pursuit of Judge, speaking to the outfielder repeatedly since the end of the postseason."

Olney's update comes after it was learned that Steinbrenner has decreed Judge "gets first dibs at" the Yankees' money. The reigning American League Most Valuable Player rejected New York's seven-year, $213.5 million contract extension offer before the season and then hit free agency last month. 

It was reported on Thursday Judge could be "very close to 50-50" between re-signing with the Yankees and joining the San Francisco Giants, especially if the Giants meet or even exceed his contract requests. Judge grew up a fan of the Giants and is a native of Linden, California.

"The strong organization preference is to retain Judge, but some experienced agents expect Cashman will embrace the challenge of building the team without its core superstar," Olney added in his piece. "If the Giants or some other team is inspired by Judge's record-setting season, ability, and stardom and lays down a whopper offer, Cashman and Steinbrenner will face a tough decision." 

It was said on Wednesday the Yankees have offered Judge a package worth roughly $300 million over eight years. Former New York Mets general manager Steve Phillips later indicated the Bronx Bombers may have to improve the length and overall worth of the deal to prevent the 30-year-old from embracing a West Coast homecoming.