Aaron Judge giving Juan Soto space in free agency, but he has Hal Steinbrenner’s ear

After going through a closely covered free agent process himself in 2022, Aaron Judge said he’s taking a hands-off approach to Juan Soto’s sweepstakes.

Judge, speaking on a Friday conference call after winning his second MVP Award, said that he hasn’t talked to Soto “at all” since the Yankees lost the World Series to the Dodgers. The two were both MVP finalists after hitting back-to-back in the Bombers’ lineup in 2024.

“I think the best thing is to really give those guys space,” Judge said. “I talked to him all season, and he knows how we feel about him. I think the most important thing is to now let him do his thing with his family, pray about it, talk with people, and come to the right decision for him and his family. So I haven’t talked to him at all. I thought I’d talk to him maybe [Thursday] during the [MVP] announcement or interviews, but he wasn’t there. I’ll see him down the road.”

Only 26, Soto is baseball’s most coveted free agent. In addition to the Yankees, the Mets, Dodgers, Blue Jays, Red Sox and Phillies have all been linked to the superstar as he seeks a deal worth more than half-a-billion dollars.

Given his age, Soto will get a longer deal and hundreds of millions more than the nine-year, $360 million contract Judge signed with the Yankees as a 30-year-old before the 2023 season. There’s a likely chance Soto will also sign for an average annual salary larger than Judge’s $40 million.

Judge won’t have an issue with any of that if it’s the Yankees paying Soto.

“Honestly, it ain’t my money. I really don’t care as long as we get the best players,” Judge said. “That’s never been something on my mind, who gets paid the most. Whatever we can do to get the best players, I’ll take it.”

Judge added that Giancarlo Stanton, inked to a 13-year, $325 million pact, has been an example-setting teammate in that regard.

“He didn’t care about being the highest-paid guy,” Judge said. “He just wanted good players around him.”

While Judge has not been in touch with Soto, the Yankees’ captain has had contact with Hal Steinbrenner, who met with Soto and his agent, Scott Boras, in Southern California on Monday.

Judge went to Tampa for about a week after the World Series to meet with the owner. The two discussed Soto and other possibilities that could help the Yankees.

While Judge didn’t talk to Steinbrenner much during his first few seasons as a big leaguer, the slugger has had the owner’s ear since signing his big contract. It’s not uncommon or new for Judge and Gerrit Cole, another well-paid Yankee, to offer their input, as they meet with Steinbrenner every two weeks or at least once a homestand during the season.

Judge said he also visits Steinbrenner’s home in the offseason to share ideas and hang out.

“It’s really all on Hal,” Judge said of their relationship. “When I was a free agent at the end of 2022, one of the first things he said was, ‘Hey, I really just want to build a relationship with you and have you be a part of this. You’re going to be here for however long your contract’s gonna be. You’re going to be a Yankee for life.’ So he really kind of opened it up to me if I had any input, if I had any feelings about things, because he’s not down in the clubhouse. He’s not down on the field every single day. So I think just having that relationship where I can kind of communicate with him about what I’m seeing, what I’m feeling, what I see with the guys, what I see from other guys that we play against or stuff like that, I love it. I think it’s a cool part to where the more communication you have from top to bottom, it just it makes everybody better.

“Being in the position I am, being the captain as well, I definitely enjoy it, and I think the fact that they’re listening and want to know what we have to say is a pretty cool part of it.”

Steinbrenner is hoping that his approach also appeals to Soto, as he wants a similar relationship with the free agent.
That message was conveyed when Steinbrenner chatted with Soto earlier this week.

“We didn’t get to know each other that well [last season],” Steinbrenner said at the Owners Meetings this week. “I was told that he is someone that when he’s in the clubhouse, he is in a zone like no other. And with players like that, I just don’t like interrupting that process and pulling somebody aside, dragging him into [Aaron] Boone’s office to have conversations.

“But we did talk about that in California, and should he be back next year, I made it clear that the kind of relationship I would like is the kind of relationship I have with Gerrit and with Aaron Judge.”

Boras, meanwhile, has said that Soto wants to know he’ll be playing for an owner who is committed to annual contention.

While the Yankees have been consistent winners, Steinbrenner, often one to vocalize his desires for a payroll that doesn’t blow past luxury tax thresholds, has often been viewed as less urgent, aggressive and invested in the Yankees than his late father, George.

However, Judge called The Boss’ son an “active” and “receptive” owner after Steinbrenner said, “I’ve got ears. I know what’s expected of me,” when asked about fans’ desire to retain Soto at an exorbitant cost.

“To build this relationship and see how much he cares about this organization, this team, from top to bottom,” Judge said, “is why we continue to be in the position that we’re in.”